Faunistic analysis of parasites from marine herrings in the northern Caspian Sea

Abstract

Qualitative and quantitative composition of parasites from herring (Dolgino population), caspian shad, and big-eyed shad is analyzed on the data of long-term samplings, using traditional methods and determinants for identifcation. The community of parasites has temporal fluctuations associated with changes of habitat conditions, including feeding base for hosts, and depended on biological features of both parasites and their hosts. The basis of the herring parasitofauna is composed by specifc and euryxene species. Monogeneans and intestinal trematodes has a stable high degree of infection. Helminths dangerous for human and epizootically signifcant parasites are recorded sporadically. Hyphae of microscopic fungi are found on the smears-prints of parenchymal organs of herrings with domination of gen. Penicillium. All detected parasites do not cause signifcant clinical deseases in organisms of the investigated species.

Keywords

• invasion
• dolgino herring
• big-eyed shad
• caspian shad
• parasitic community
• hyphomycete