First Record of Six Myxosporean Species (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) in Iraq from Gills of the Mugilid Fish Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843)

Abstract

Sampling of Planiliza abu specimens were done from July 2015 until the end of March 2016, a total of 118 specimens were collected weekly from Tigris River near Al-Graiat region in Baghdad province. The examination of gills of these fishes showed the occurrence of six myxosporean species which were documented for the first time in Iraq. These included: Myxobilatus baicalensis (Dogiel, 1957), Myxobolus bizerti Bahri & Marques, 1996, M. branchialis (Markevich, 1932), M. chuatsi (Dogiel &Akhmerov in Akhmerov, 1960), M. dermatobius (Ishii, 1916) and M. niei Shul'man, 1962. The description and measurements of these parasites were given as well as their illustrations.

Keywords

• Myxozoa
• Myxobilatus
• Myxobolus
• Planiliza abu
• Tigris River
• Baghdad