Prevalence of Diplostomum spathaceum infectious in some endemic fishes of water resources in West Azerbaijan province

Diplostomum spathaceum is a digenean parasite with an indirect life cycle. Its mature stage lives in gull's intestine, cercariae in snails (Lymnaeidae) liver and metacercariae stage in piscine, amphibian, and mammalian eyes. Notice that penetration of cercariae into skin and eye cause lesions which cause susceptibility to secondary infections, appetite loss due to infections, blurry vision, and disability in hunting and feeding on fish. It, therefore, plays an important role in aquatic health. During this study, prevalence of Diplostomum spathaceum infectious in 240 introduced and endemic fishes of water resources in West Azerbaijan province were studied from spring 2008 to winter 2010. The results indicate that 58/30 % of fish (140 fish) showed infestation with this parasite which presents a high rate of infestation in the fishes in these water resources.