Species of Monogenean Parasites Infesting Cyprinus carpio and Planiliza abu in Lake Balloran Dam-Syria

This study was conducted in Lake Balloran Dam and involved 68 fish specimens, including 23 common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and 45 Abu mullet (Liza abu). Sampling was carried out monthly and randomly from July 2020 to August 2021. The research addressed parasitic infections in these two important species of freshwater fish. This work identifies five parasitic species of monogeneans, three of them were isolated from common carp and identified as species belonging to the genus Dactylogyrus: D. dogieli, D. minutus, and D. extensus. One species was isolated from both the common carp and Abu mullet, and identified as the species Gyrodactylus derjavini, and the other species, G. elegans, was isolated from only the common carp. Dactylogyrus species were primarily isolated from the gills of the studied fish, whereas Gyrodactylus species were found on the skin and fins. This study is of fundamental interest for the knowledge of parasitic biodiversity on the Asian continent that are widespread in vast bodies of water, and the species D. dogieli and G. derjavini were recorded for the first time in Syrian freshwater in this study.