Infection of Predatory Fish with Larvae of Eustrongylides excisus (Nematoda, Dioctophymatidae) in the Delta of the Dnipro River and the Dnipro-Buh Estuary in Southern Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract The article describes occurrence and distribution of Eustrongylides trematodes in fish in the waters of the Dnipro-Buh estuary and the delta of Dnipro River in Mykolaiv and Kherson Region. Study was conducted in 2015–2016. This parasite was found in natural water reservoirs in Mykolaiv and Kherson region in following fish species: Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758), Perca fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Esox lucius (Linnaeus, 1758). Ichtyopathological investigation of 346 fishes was conducted. Parasites were observed in abdominal cavity, muscle tissue, wall of gastro-intestinal tract, gonads and hepatopancreas. P. fluviatilis was the most affected species, prevalence of infection was 85.1 %. Less infected were S. lucioperca and E. lucius, with the prevalence of infection 58.1 % and 58.9 % respectively. Mean prevalence of infection of predatory fish in studied reservoirs was 70.5 %. The intensity of infection was the highest in perch (1–14 nematodes per fish). The lowest intensity of infection was found in pike-perch (1–9 nematodes per fish).