Parasitofauna of the Ohrid trout (Salmo letnica Karaman, 1924) from Lake Ohrid (Macedonia)

Abstract

In the period from April, 1995 to March, 1996, 131 specimens of the Ohrid trout (Salmo letnica, Karaman) 1924 from the Macedonian part of Lake Ohrid were examined parasitologically. A total of 99 fishes (75.57%) were found to be infected. The presence of 6 parasite species: Diclybothrium sp., Eubothrium crassum, Eubothrium salvelini, Cyathocephalus truncatus, Proteocephalus neglectus and Pomphorhynchus laevis. The highest prevalence occurred with Eubothrium crassum (48.09%) and the lowest with Pomphorhynchus laevis (0.76%). The greatest number of parasite specimens was found in the cases of infection with Eubothrium crassum (55) followed by Proteocephalus neglectus (45) and Cyatocephalus truncatus (40). Fultons condition coefficient among the infected fishes was 1.03 (average) and among the uninfected trouts it was 1.10. A high prevalence (75.57%) was noted which was higher than in other fish species of Lake Ohrid. The finding of 3 parasite species mentioned in our study. is the first time they have been detected among the parasitofauna of Lake Ohrid and Macedonia: Diclybothrium sp., Eubothrium salvelini and Proteocephalus neglectus. From the results of our investigations, we can add a new host, Salmo letnica, for some parasite species: Diclybothrium sp., Eubothrium salvelini, Cyathocephalus truncatus, Proteocephalus neglectus and Pomphorhynchus laevis to the list of known hasts.