Determination of helminth parasites in abdominal cavity of Alosa caspia (Eichwald, 1838) from the southeast part of the Caspian Sea

Alosa caspia (Eichwald, 1838) belongs to clupeidae family, is considered as one of the main fish in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the helminthic parasite infections in abdominal cavity of A. caspia from southeastern part of the Caspian Sea. In this regard, 30 fish were caught from Bandar-Torkaman and transferred alive to the parasitological laboratory. Then parasites specimens were fixed and transferred to the National Museum of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at University of Tehran for identification. A total of two parasite species including Anisakis simplex and Pronoprymna ventricosa were isolated from the fish. 100% of the fish were infected with at least one helminthic parasite species. Pronoprymna ventricosa has the highest infection prevalence rate and was isolated from pyloric caeca, intestine and stomach of 93.33% of the fish specimens. Anisakis simplex is found in abdominal cavity of 33.33 % of the studied fish. Intensity of A. simplex and P. ventricosa was calculated as 8.4±5.31 and 91.4±21.46, respectively. Based on the statistical analysis, there were no significant differences in total parasites burden, parasite prevalence and parasite intensity between male and female of the studied fish (P>0.05).