Parasite Fauna of Chub Squalius cephalus (L., 1758) (Actinopterygii: Leuciscidae) from a Stream System in Kocaeli Province, Türkiye.

The parasite fauna of chub Squalius cephalus from the Kaytazdere-Yalakdere stream systems, Sea of Marmara basin, Türkiye, was investigated. Totally, four digenean species (Clinostomum complanatum, Tylodelphys clavata, Posthodiplostomum sp. and Ichthyocotylurus sp.), one nematode species (Rhabdochona denudata), one monogenean species (Dactylogyrus nanus) and two myxosporean species (Myxobolus sp. 1 and Myxobolus sp. 2) were identified. Overall infection prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance were 87.0%, 22.1 ± 2.5, 16.2 ± 2.0, respectively. Myxobolus sp. 2 was the most prevalent parasite species, followed by Myxobolus sp. 1 and C. complanatum. Dactylogyrus nanus was the most abundant parasite species, followed by C. complanatum and Ichthyocotylurus sp. The species Thylodelphys clavata, Posthodiplostomum sp., Ichthyocotylurus sp., Myxobolus sp. 1 and Myxobolus sp. 2 are new parasite records for S. cephalus as well as new geographical records in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]