Intestinal parasites of Salmo Ohridanus (Steindachner, 1892) from Ohrid Lake

Abstract

With the aim to investigate the presence of parasites in the gastrointestinal tract of Ohrid belvica (Salmo ohridanus, Steindachner, 1892), investigations were conducted on individuals captured in vegetative and reproductive development period of Ohrid belvica, on three localities of Ohrid Lake (located between southwestern Macedonia and eastern Albania): Kalista, Kaneo and Elesec, on depth from 45 to 70 m. Tests were performed on a total of 60 samples with average body mass from 90 to 100 g and average total body length from 217 to 225 mm. It has been established the presence of the following parasites in the gut content of fish: Cyathocephalus truncatus (Class Cestoda), Pseudocapillaria salvelini and Salmonema ephemeridarum (Class Nematoda). Cyathocephalus truncatus was present on the locality Kalista, in both stages of the development of Ohrid belvica, and on the locality Elesec only in the reproductive stage. Pseudocapillaria salvelini was registered in the samples from locality Kalista and Kaneo in both stages of the development of Ohrid belvica. Salmonema ephemeridarum was found in the vegetative stage of Ohrid belvica only in locality Elesec. The presence of parasites was higher during the reproductive phase of development of the Ohrid belvica, i.e during the winter, unlike during the vegetative phase, actually autumn. The highest proportion (100% of the tested fish) of tapeworm Cyathocephalus truncatus was found during the reproductive phase of the individuals from the locality Kalista.