ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PARASITIC NEMATODES (CUCULLNUS LONGICOLLIS) THAT INFECTS (MULLUS SURMULETUS) FISH IN THE MARINE WATERS OF SIRTE-LIBYA

Abstract

Due to the important geographical location that characterized the city of Sirte-Libya, and given the importance of fish wealth in this region and the negative impact that may occur as a result of infecting fish with parasites, and the lack of research studies on this subject in this region, so this research study was conducted to contribute to the to clarify this issue. A number of (70) fish specimens were collected from Sirte - Libyan coast facing Mediterranean Sea from January 2021 to March 2021 , and the measurements were made on them all marine fish examined externally in the laboratory, after that they were dissected by the scientific methods used and examined internally, as well as the digestive system was examined and conducted on parasites extracted by all the processes related to study. The discovered parasitic worms were carefully extracted, laboratory operations were conducted on them, and they were examined and photographed under a normal light microscope as well as an electron microscope. The results showed that (2) of these fish were infected with nematode worms of the species Cucullanus longicollis , which were extracted from the large intestines of these fish. This parasite was recorded for the first time in the marine waters of the city of Sirte-Libya.The general shape of the parasite has been described, supported by pictures. This research aims to identify the parasitic nematodes that infect Mullus surmuletus fish and to know the extent of environmental pollution in the study area and the rate of fish infestation, as well as to clarify and studying the general form of these parasitic worms under study