Abstract

Histopathological changes in gills of a native fish Capoeta aculeata, naturally-infected with parasites were studied. The specimens (15.5 to 22.8 cm) were collected from Choghakhor lagoon in West Iran. 35 (11%) of the total 318 studied fishes were infected with gill parasites. Overall, six protozoan and metazoan parasite species were collected from fishes including Ichthyophthirius multifiliis,Trichodina sp., Myxobolus musayevi, Dactylogyrus extensus, Gyrodactylus sp. and Copepod stage of Lerneae cyprinacea. The gills of infected fish were fixed and processed for routine histological investigations. Histopathological changes and tissue reactions included hyperplasia, congestion and mucous cell proliferation of the gill epithelium and damaged primary and secondary lamellae. Histopathological changes induced by the parasites adversely affected the proper functioning of the gills of the host fish.

Key words: Gill parasites, histopathology, Capoeta aculeata, Choghakhor lagoon.