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Literature reviews of reports concerning the parasitic fauna of fishes of Al-Diwaniyah province, Iraq till the end of December 2018 showed that a total of 43 parasite species are so far known from 13 valid fish species investigated for parasitic infections. The parasitic fauna included one euglenozoan, two myzozoans, six ciliophorans, three myxozoans, three trematodes, nine monogeneans, four cestodes, six nematodes, three acanthocephalans and six crustaceans. The infection with the trematodes, one monogenean, two cestodes and one nematode occurred with larval stages, while the remaining infections were either with trophozoites or adult parasites. Among the inspected fishes, Carasobarbus luteus was infected with the highest number of parasite species (20 parasite species), followed by Planiliza abu (17 species) and Cyprinus carpio (16 species) while two fish species (Ctenopharyngodon idella and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) were infected with the minimum number of parasite species (three parasite species each). The ciliophoran Trichodina domerguei and the crustacean Lernaea cyprinacea were the commonest parasite species as they were reported from nine fish species each, followed by the monogenean Dactylogyrus extensus and the nematode Contracaecum sp. which were reported from eight and six host species, respectively, while the minimum number of one host species was reported for 22 parasite species.

The small intestine of two rallid aquatic birds (Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 and Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Bahr Al-Najaf depression, southwest of Al-Najaf city, mid-Iraq), were infected with the nematode Amidostomum acutum Seurat, 1918 with a prevalence of 25% and 50%, respectively, and a mean intensity of 24.5 and 30, respectively. The infected birds showed several gross pathological and microscopic lesions in their small intestine due to the infection with this nematode. The gross lesions included hypertrophy in the anterior part of the duodenum and small rough nodules on the small intestine wall. Microscopic lesions included necrosis and shortening of villi with their fullness with inflammatory cells, degeneration of villi, and an increased number of acini at the base of the intestinal villi.

The paper reviews all the reports concerning the parasitic fauna of the three species of carps cultured in Al-Furat fish farm, Babylon province, mid Iraq. These fishes included the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) as well as the mullet (Liza abu) found in the same farm. The parasitic fauna included 60 valid parasite species: ten protozoans, three myxozoans, 29 monogeneans, one trematode, five cestodes, three nematodes, two acanthocephalans, six crustaceans and one mollusc. The common carp was found to harbour 56 species of parasites, the grass carp 25 species, the silver carp 25 species and the mullet six species. The parasitic species were revised and some were synonymised in accordance with latest internet taxonomical accounts. A host- parasite list was prepared for each host species which included all documented literature concerned with this farm.

A series of experiments were conducted for the first time in Iraq to evaluate the efficacy of five plant leaves extracts (Ibicella lutea, Nerium oleander, Clerodendron inerme, Allium cepa and Eucalyptus spp.) in treating the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) infected with monogenetic trematodes of genera Dactylogyru and Gyrodactylus. Five different concentrations of such extracts were used to bath fishes for 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 minutes. A concentration of 15% onion leaves, A. cepa for 25 minutes of bath exposure was effective in trematode eradication. Extracts of both Eucalyptus and N. oleander at a concentration of 10 % each were also effective for ten minutes exposure. Extracts of false yasmine leaves, C. inerme had no any effect on such parasites. On the other hand, extracts of I. lutea caused a serious damage to treated fishes when used at different concentrations and at different periods of exposure.

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) zabensis sp. n. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) is described from Capoeta damascina (Valenciennes, 1842) (type host) and Capoeta trutta (Heckel, 1843) in the Greater and Lesser Zab Rivers, northern Iraq. The new species is unique among all other species of the genus by its characteristic paired para-vaginal muscular appendage and fragmented giant nuclei in the lemnisci. Eleven of the other 88 valid species of Neoechinorhynchus and N. zabensis have middle and posterior hooks of equal length. However, N. zabensis is distinguished from the others by size of trunk, proboscis, proboscis hooks and lemnisci, number of giant nuclei, position of female gonopore, and geographical and host distribution. It is also distinguished from six other species of Neoechinorhynchus previously reported from Iraq. Other distinguishing features are also included.

A new species of lamproglenine copepods, Pseudolamproglena boxshalli sp. n., is described from gills of the cyprinid fish Cyprinion macrostomum Heckel from the Tigris River in Tikreet, north of Baghdad, Iraq. This is the second species of Pseudolamproglena from Iraq and the fourth in the world. It differs from its three congeners mainly in the armature ofantennule, maxilla, maxilliped, legs 1-4 and caudal ramus.

Four species of ergasilid copepods were collected from gill filaments of three species of fishes from Khor al-Zubair Lagoon, Iraq. The mugilid Liza subviridis hosted the new species Ergasilus iraquensis and Ergasilus pararostralis. Ergasilus synanceienis sp. n. was found on the synanceiid Leptosynanceia melanostigma(Day). The fourth species, Dermoergasilus varicoleus Ho, Jayarajan & Radhakrishnan, 1992 was found parasitizing the mugilid Liza abu, and is a new record for Iraq.

Five species of ergasilids parasitic on the mullet Liza abu (Heckel) in the Shatt Al-Arab River in the south of Iraq are reported. They are: Dermoergasilus varicoleus Ho, Jayarajan & Radhakrishnan, 1992; Ergasilus mosulensis Rahemo, 1982; E. rostralis Ho, Jayarajan & Radhakrishnan, 1992; Mugilicola kabatai Piasecki, Khamees & Mhaisen, 1991; and Paraergasilus inflatus n. sp. In addition to describing the new species, a redescription of E. mosulensis is also given.

Dark-blotched Mudskippers, Periophthalmus waltoni, were collected from mudflats of the Khor Al–Zubair estuary, in the northwestern Arabian Gulf between November 1992 and May 1993. Fishes were infected with Myxobolus pfeifferi (Sporozoa), Diplozoon sp. (Monogenea) and Neoechinorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala). Symptoms of both furunculosis and bacterial gill diseases (which are reported here for the first time in Iraq) were also noticed. Fishes consumed barnacles, shrimps, crabs, snails, insects and fishes.

Literature review concerning the parasitic fauna of marsh fishes of Basrah province of Iraq indicated that there are six species of protozoans (three flagellates, two ciliates and one sporozoan), eleven trematodes, five cestodes, two nematodes, one acantho‐cephalan and four crustaceans. These parasites were recorded from five fish species belonging to the family Cyprinidae and from one fish species of families Siluridae, Heteropneustidae and Mugilidae.

A survey of the literature on the parasitic fauna and disease agents of catfishes in Iraq indicated the presence of 8 protozoans (three flagellates, four ciliates and one sporozoan), 14 trematodes, 7 cestodes, 5 nematodes, 4 crustaceans and one freshwater mussel glochidium.

Eight species of water birds (waders and herons) inhabiting Babylon Fish Farm in Iraq were surveyed for parasitic worms during 1987/1988. This examination revealed the occurrence of five digenetic trematodes, eleven cestodes and four nematodes 16 of these 20 species are thought to be new to the parasite fauna of the birds of Iraq.

During the period from December 1985 to March 1986, a total of 21Great Black-headed Gulls (L.. ichthyaetus) and one specimen of Common Gull (L. canus) was collected from Shatt-Al-Arab river at Basrah city. Parasitological examination of these birds revealed the occurrence of 8 digenetic trematodes (Plagiorchis elegans, Mesorchis denticulatus, Apophallus muhlingi, Haplorchis pumilio, H. yokogawi, Galacrostomum fregatae, Stictodora sawakinensis and Diplostomum spathacum) and 3 cestodes (Paricterotaenia porosa. Tetrabothrius cylindraceus and Wardium fusa) Of these parasites, 7 species are new to the parasite fauna of the birds of Iraq.

The status of species of Pomphorhynchus Monticelli, 1905 is examined and 23 species are recognised as valid. These include P. spindletruncatus n. sp., which is described herein from two species of freshwater fishes in northern Iraq, Aspius vorax Heckel and Barbus xanthopterus (Heckel) (Cyprinidae). Only one other species, P. yunnanensis Wang, 1981, has a spindle-shaped trunk similar to that of P. spindletruncatus, but is distinguished from it by a distinctly different proboscis armature. A key separating the new taxon from other species of Pomphorhynchus is included. P. heronensis Pichelin, 1997 is reassigned to a new pomphorhynchid genus, Pyriproboscis n. g., based on its unique proboscis shape and armature, short proboscis receptacle and tubular cement glands. A key to the genera of the Pomphorhynchidae is also included.

Female of parasitic copepod Muglicola kabatai sp. nov. is described in detail, based on the material collected from Iraqi mugilid fish Liza abu. The new species differs from the other three, known species of Mugilicola mainly in the shape of the “trunk” and also in the proportions of the body as well as in the armature of legs and first antenna.

During March 1988, three fungus species namely: Saprolegnia ferax, S. terrestris and Achlya polyandra were isolated from alive and dead specimens of two freshwater fishes (Cyprinus carpio and Liza abu), honey bees (Apis mellifera) and California flies (Calliphora sp.) which were cultured / or fallen in small fish tanks of the Department of Hydrobiology at Al‐Rashidiya, north of Baghdad, Iraqi. Occurrence of the above named fungi represents their first record in C. carpio and L. abu in Iraq.