Parasitic infestation in carps depending on the age and seasons of year in the Shirvan pond fishery of Azerbaijan

Abstract

Considering that invasive diseases cause significant damage to pond fish breeding, causing a decrease in the rate of growth and body weight, and sometimes the death of subyearlings and yearlings, we set the task of studying the distribution of carp diseases in fisheries in Azerbaijan. This article presents the results of 3-year (2012–2015) researches on carps infestation with parasites in the Shirvan pond fishery. The epizootic situation in the investigated farm has been analysed. By the method of complete and partial dissection, two types of commercial (carp, sazan) fish were investigated. A total 9 species of parasites have been revealed: protozoa – 2 (Chilodonella piscicola, İchthyophthirius multifiliis), monogeneans – 2 (Dactylogyrus extensus, Cyrodactylus elegans), cestodes – 1 (Bothricephalus acheilognathi), trematodes – 1 (Diplostomum chromftophorum), nematodes – 1 (Capillaria tomentosa), crustaceans – 2 (Lernaea cyprinacea, Argulus foliaceus). As a result of the research it has been found that among the found parasites the most pathogenic are the following species: İchthyophthirius multifiliis, Dactylogyrus extensus, Cyrodactylus elegans, Bothricephalus acheilognathi, Lernaea cyprinacea, Argulus foliaceus. In general, it has been found that parasitic infestation of fish in the spring-summer period is higher than in the autumn-winter period. The intensity of infection with parasites of 3-year-old fish is usually higher than in yearlings.