Parasitofauna of the Ohrid belvica (Acantholingua ohridana Hadžišče, 1961) from Lake Ohrid (Macedonia)

Abstract

Parasitological examination showed that out of 316 specimens of the Ohrid belvica (Acantholingua ohridana Hadžišče, 1961; former term Salmothymus ohridanus Steindachner, 1892) from the Macedonian part of Lake Ohrid 172 fishes (54.43%) were infected. In our case study the presence of 13 parasite species was established: Diplozoon sp., Nicolla testiobliquum, Eubothrium crassum, Eubothrium salvelini, Cythocephalus truncatus, Proteoceephalus neglectus, Proteocephalus torulosus, Raphidascaris acus, Cystidicoloides tenuissima, Metechinorhynchus truttae, Metechinorhynchus salmonis, Acanthocephalus anguillae and Pomphorhyhchus bosniacus. Individually, the highest prevalence was found for Cythocephalus truncatus (17.72%). The greatest number of parasite specimens was evident in the cases of infection with Cyathocephalus truncatus (32). With the exception of Cyathocephalus truncatus, the other 12 parasite species in our study are recorded for the first time in the ichthyoparasitofauna of Lake Ohrid and Macedonia.