INFECTION OF NEOGOBIUS SPP. WITH CERATOMYXA CASPIA IN THE SOUTH CASPIAN SEA, MAZANDARAN PROVINCE

Fifteen specimens of Neogobius spp. were randomely selected from the southern part of the Caspian Sea and examined in spring 2006 for parasitic infestation. The fishes were transferred alive to the laboratory, then, their weight and length were measured and after dissection were examined for different parasites. During the examinations, the tubular parts of kidney of four fishes were found to be infected with the spores of Ceratomyxa caspia. The spores were symmetrical, crescent-shaped, and had horn-like ends. The mid-region of the spore was convex while cornua was extremely narrow. Spherical polar capsules and sporoplasm occupied the convex part of the spore. Length of the spores was measured as 11.5 mm, the distance between ends of cornua was 19.5 mm, horns were about 11.5 mm and diameter of polar capsules was 5 mm. In the infected fishes plasmodia of the parasite was not seen, due to the time of sampling. The fishes were caught at the end of the spring, when the mature plasmodia had already released the spores. This is the first report of Ceratomyxa caspia in the Southern part of the Caspian Sea.