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The article discusses a study about the morphological characteristics and histopathology of Neoechinorhynchus dimorphospinus from the Arabian Gulf. Topics cited include the description of species of marine fishes, use of scanning electron microscopy, the different stages of egg development, the destruction of the epithelial lining of Liza klunzingeri by worms, and typical pathology in intestinal sites occupied by worms.

Reviewing the literature on all the acanthocephalans parasitizing freshwater and marine fishes of Basrah province, Iraq indicated the presence of 14 acanthocephalan taxa. Seven taxa belong to the class Eoacanthocephala and seven to the class Palaeacanthocephala. All these acanthocephalans, except Serrasentis spp. are adults living in the intestine of their fish hosts. Five species of such acanthocephalans were recorded from freshwater localities, seven from marine localities and two taxa from both freshwater and marine localities. The total number of acanthocephalan species recorded for each fish host species fluctuated from a minimum of one acanthocephalan species in 18 fish hosts to a maximum of six acanthocephalan species in Liza abu only. Number of fish hosts reported for these acanthocephalans fluctuated from one host in case of seven species to a maximum of 21 hosts in case of Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gills of three of five species of mullets (Teleostei: Mugiliformes: Mugilidae) collected from the brackish and fresh waters of southern Iraq were infected with species of Ligophorus (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) as follows: greenback mullet Chelon subviridis (Valenciennes) infected with Ligophorus lebedevi Dmitrieva, Gerasev, Gibson, Pronkina and Galli, 2012, Ligophorus bantingensis Soo and Lim, 2012, Ligophorus sagmarius n. sp., and Ligophorus fluviatilis (Bychowsky, 1949) Dmitrieva, Gerasev, Gibson, Pronkina, and Galli, 2012; Klunzinger’s mullet Liza klunzingeri (Day) with L. bantingensis, L. fluviatilis, and an apparently undescribed species of Ligophorus; and abu mullet Liza abu (Heckel) with L. bantingensis and L. fluviatilis. The keeled mullet Liza carinata (Valenciennes) and Speigler’s mullet Valamugil speigleri (Bleeker) were uninfected. L. sagmarius n. sp. is described, and L. lebedevi and L. bantingensis are redescribed. Available specimens of L. fluviatilis and the undescribed species of Ligophorus from Klunzinger’s mullet were insufficient for description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two specimens of catfish were recorded for the first time from two different natural waters in Iraq. The first specimen was 67.7 mm. in total length, collected during a study on fish parasites of Ibn Najim marsh in the middle of Iraq during 2009. The second specimen was 312 mm in total length, captured during a survey on fishes of Shatt Al-Basrah canal south of Iraq in 2011. Twelve local aquarium pangasiids (Imported from the Philippines) were examined for morphometric and meristic characteristics for comparison. The results indicated that the aquarium specimens are closely allied to the wild specimens, all were identical with the genus Pangasianodon. The studied fish had characters share with P. hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878). The new occurrence of the striped catfish in Iraq, might be due to aquarium escape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 188 fish samples of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791) were collected from north west of the Arabian Gulf (latitudes 48° 44′ to 48° 46′; longitude 29° 46′ to 29° 47′) during the period from January 2011 till January 2012. The copepod Caligus epinepheli Yamaguti, 1936 was recorded from the gills during most months of the year. Descriptions of adult parasites and chalimi (larval stages of the parasites) were included. Females body length range was 1.38-2.55 (2.16) mm. Egg sac length 0.99-1.80 (1.31) mm, the number of eggs ranged from 13-22 (17) in each egg sac. The range of the males body length was 1.45-1.73 (1.59) mm. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the infestations of both sexes of the host (except in fish group with body length 18-21cm.).The highest incidence of infestation was recorded during March and June (57.1%), while the lower level of infestation was recorded during December (7.6%). The high intensity of infestation was recorded during April (10), while the lowest intensity of infestation was recorded in December (1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviewing the literature on all the cestodes parasitizing freshwater and marine fishes of Basrah province, Iraq indicated the presence of 30 cestode taxa. Eleven species of such cestodes were recorded from freshwater localities, 18 from marine localities and one species from marine, brackish and fresh waters. All these cestodes belong to the subclass Eucestoda. The total number of cestode species recorded for each fish host species fluctuated from a minimum of one cestode species in 15 fish hosts to a maximum of five cestode species in Silurus triostegus only. Number of fish hosts reported for these cestodes fluctuated from one host in case of 17 species to a maximum of nine hosts in case of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature review on trematodes of freshwater and marine fishes of Basrah province, Iraq indicated the presence of 54 trematode taxa. Ninteen species of such trematodes were recorded from freshwater localities, while the remaining species were reported from marine localities. All these trematodes belong to the subclass Digenea except Aspidogaster enneatus which belongs to the subclass Aspidogastrea. All the reported trematodes are adults living in the stomach and/ or intestine of their hosts except Transversotrema haasi which was found in the skin, while eight species occurred as larval stages (metacercariae) in skin, gills or eyes of their hosts. The total number of trematode species for each fish host species fluctuated from a minimum of one trematode species in 13 fish hosts to 15 trematode species in Silurus triostegus only. Number of fish hosts reported for these trematodes fluctuated from one host in case of 32 species to 22 hosts in case of Ascocotyle coleostoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gyrodactylus aff. mugili Zhukov, 1970 (Monogenoidea: Gyrodactylidae) is recorded and described from the gill lamellae of 11 of 35 greenback mullet, Chelon subviridis (Valenciennes) (minimum prevalence 31%), from the brackish waters of the Shatt Al-Arab Estuary in southern Iraq. The gyrodactylid was also found on the gill lamellae of one of eight Speigler's mullet, Valamugil speigleri (Bleeker), from the brackish waters of the Shatt Al-Basrah Canal (minimum prevalence 13%). Fifteen Klunzinger's mullet, Liza klunzingeri (Day), and 13 keeled mullet, Liza carinata (Valenciennes), collected and examined from southern Iraqi waters, were apparently uninfected. The gyrodactylids from the greenback mullet and Speigler's mullet were considered to have affinity to G. mugili Zhukov, 1970, and along with G. mugili may represent members of a species complex occurring on mullets in the Indo-Pacific Region. A single damaged gyrodactylid from the external surfaces of the abu mullet, Liza abu (Heckel), was insufficient for species identification. Previously identified species of Gyrodactylus recorded on L. abu in Iraq by various authors were considered possible misidentifications or accidental infections.