First record of six myxosporean species (Myxozoa : Myxosporea)‎ in Iraq from gills of the Mugilid fish Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843)‎

Abstract EN

Sampling of Planiliza abu specimens were done from July 2015 until the end of March 2016, a total of 118 specimens were collected weekly from Tigris River near Al-Graiat region in Baghdad province.

The examination of gills of these fishes showed the occurrence of six myxosporean species which were documented for the first time in Iraq.

These included: Myxobilatus baicalensis (Dogiel, 1957), Myxobolus bizerti Bahri & Marques, 1996, M.

branchialis (Markevich, 1932), M.

chuatsi (Dogiel &Akhmerov in Akhmerov, 1960), M.

dermatobius (Ishii, 1916) and M.

niei Shul'man, 1962.

The description and measurements of these parasites were given as well as their illustrations.