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Literature review of reports concerning the parasitic fauna of floating cage fishes in Iraq till the end of 2021 showed that a total of 57 parasite species are so far known from three fish species investigated for parasitic infections throughout the country. The parasitic fauna included 15 ciliophorans, three myxozoans, two trematodes, 28 monogeneans, five cestodes, one nematode, one acanthocephalan and two crustaceans. The common carp Cyprinus carpio was infected with all these 57 parasite species, the grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella with four parasite species and the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix with only one parasite species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of October 2018, a mass fish mortality occurred in Iraq, involving thousands of tons of cultured and wild common carp (Cyprinus carpio) along Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Fish were found dead or moribund along rivers coasts, showing lethargy, dyspnoea and flared gills. At necropsy, discoloration patches were noticed on the gills. Wet preparations showed rare metacercariae and Dactylogyrus spp. Samples were subjected to bacteriological tests and virological investigation through real‐time PCR and nested PCR. Both were positive for koi herpesvirus (KHV) and carp oedema virus. Results obtained were confirmed by the OIE reference laboratory of KHV disease (KHVD) at Cefas (UK) and by sequence analysis. This is the first report on the detection of both viruses in Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iraqi fish breeding industry suffered a severe fatal outbreak in September and October 2018, where the high mortality rate was observed in Iraqi fish farms especially that depended on cage system breeding. The current study was conducted to investigate and diagnose the phenomena of high mortality in September and October 2018. Twenty-five affected common carp fishes were collected from five fish farms use cages system (five fishes each) on Euphrates River banks. Affected fish samples were analyzed via gross. Histopathology, PCR for viral detection, bacteriology and mycology techniques. The high mortality rate was observed in the all affected farms, which reach to 80% of farms fishes. Grossly, hemorrhage patches in skins of affected fishes were observed. Congestion and hemorrhage were observed in liver, kidneys, spleen and muscle. Also, erosion of gills filament with presence of white to gray patches in affected gills were observed. Histopathology results showed necrosis lesion in gills, liver and kidneys cells with presence of hemorrhage. The qPCR results for virus detection revealed that all tested samples were positive for Koi Herpes virus (KHV). The bacteriology results showed presence of five gram negative bacteria including three species of Aeromonas, Raoultella ornithinolytica and Shewanella putrefaciens. The mycology results showed the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus and Mucor spp. In conclusion, according to results the high mortality outbreak in fish that occurred in September and October 2018, Iraq was due to Koi Herpes virus infection with presence of secondary bacterial or fungal infection [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to study the effect of using date palm seeds powder as feed ingredient in fish laboratory of Animal Production Department, College of Agricultural sciences of Sulaimani University, Iraq, Using 75 common carp fingerlings weight 62±2 gm, to test the effect of three different levels of the date palm seed. The control treatment T1 with 0 gm date palm seed., (T2) with 2.5gm date palm seed, and (T3) with 5 gm date palm seed. At the end of experiment a dissection of all fish were done for study some blood parameters of tested fish showed that T1 has significant differences in Red blood cells count 2.113, hemoglobin values were high significantly in T1 and T3 with 11.575 and 11.000 respectively. Hematocrits was higher in T1 46.750 while no significant differences observed in Platelets. No significant differences were in monocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes count among treatments. Some biological parameters studied such as Hepatosomatic index in which T2 was higher significantly 1.515, no significant (P<0.05) differences obtained from Spleenosomatic index, Intestine length and Condition factor, T3 was higher in Gill index and Kidney index with 3.874 and 0.576 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of potentially pathogenic species of Gram-positive bacterium in common carp cultivated in floating cages at Al-Hilla river. A total of 144 fishes were collected from fish farms during the period December 2017- November 2018. Bacteria were identified using the VITEK 2 system and selected biochemical tests. Here we report the first fish's case of gills due to F. hominis, found in common carp cultivated in floating cages at Al-Hilla river. Antibiotic susceptibility (17 antimicrobial) was using the VITEK 2 system. Significant sensitive was produced only by Ciprofloxacin, Ertapenem and Levofloxacin, when tested in vitro. The plant species susceptibility test was conducted using disc diffusion method on blood agar. Procedure was based on the standardized disc agar diffusion method for antimicrobial susceptibility tests. After incubation, the diameter of the zone of inhibition was measured to determine the sensitivity of the six plant species extracted with alcohol in four different concentrations (10, 15, 20 and 25%). The potential of plant extracts to inhibit the infection caused by F. hominis, all plants inhibited the growth of F. hominis (pd" 0.01) in the highest concentration (25%), ginseng (P. ginseng) appeared to be the most effective, whereas olive leaves (O. europaea) was the least effective. The farm owners should be concerned about the presence of these pathogenic bacteria which also contributes to human health risk and should adopt best management practices for responsible aquaculture to ensure the quality of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was the first of its kind in Iraq, which aims to assess the risk of Durah power plant ash concentrations in hematological and biochemical changes of common carp. The result shows that the mean RBC value was from 1.3±0.015 to 0.93±1.54 was recorded in a group of 0.5 and 3ppt after two-six weeks of exposure, respectively. In contrast, the mean Hb value were from 10+0.26 to 6+0.11g/dl was recorded in blood sample exposed to 0.5and3ppt after two-six weeks of exposure, respectively. Regarding to PCV was decreased from 30%±0.54 to 18%±0.74 at the end of 45th days of exposure in treated group as compared to control group. Moving to WBCs increased from 10.87±0.31mm³ in 0.5ppt to 20.4±0.14mm³ at the 3ppt concentration after six weeks of exposure period. Turning now to activity of liver enzymes the results of SGPT value were from72±1.665 to126±0.48U/L was recorded in blood sample exposed to 0.5 and 3ppt after two-six weeks, respectively. All these data were higher than control group. However the mean SGOT values were from 274±13.52 to397±18.42 U/L was recorded in blood fish exposed to 0.5 and 3ppt after two-six weeks, respectively.Our study concluded that presence of toxic ash in aquatic environment may produce systemic toxic effects and reveal the changes in blood cells count of fish also pose hazardous alternations in biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, total length-weight relationship (LWR) of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) from Taqtaq Region of Little Zab River, Northern Iraq were determined. For this purpose, totally 100 carps (56 female and 44 male) were used. Total lengths and weights of them were measured. The total length and weight ranges were 40- 52 cm and 1300-2620 g, respectively. The logarithmic and linear equations for total length-weight relationships (LWRs) were found as LogW = -1.007+2.574LogTL (r²=0.939) for combined sexes, LogW = -0.971+2553LogTL (r²=0.925) for females and LogW = -1.61+2.607LogTL (r²=0.958) for males. The "b" values calculated for combined sexes (2.574), for females (2.553) and for males (2.607) were smaller than 3. According to "b" values, common carp population living in the Taqtaq Region of the Little Zab River of Northern Iraq shows a negative allometric growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]