Vol. 77 (3) 2025

ARTICLES

Parasite Fauna of Chub Squalius squalus (Bonaparte, 1837) (Actinopterygii: Leuciscidae) from Belčišta Wetland, Republic of North Macedonia


Stojmir Stojanovski1,*, Lidija Velkova-Jordanoska1 & Dijana Blazhekovic-Dimovska2

Abstract

During a parasitological survey of Squalius squalus from Belčišta Wetland (Republic of North Macedonia), six parasite species found. These were Dactylogyrus sphyrna, Paradiplozoon ergensi, Gyrodactylus sp., Allocreadium isoporum, Proteocephalus torulosus and Pomphorhynchus bosniacus. The total helminth prevalence was 90.91%. The species with the highest prevalence were P. bosniacus (59.09%) and D. sphyrna (54.55%). The average intensity of infection was 6.08, with the highest values of D. sphyrna (7.83) and P. bosniacus (5.92). The present study is the first record of Proteocephalus torulosus in S. squalus in the Republic of North Macedonia. Among the parasite species found, the greatest pathological impact was associated with D. sphyrna, P. ergensi and P. bosniacus.

Key words

parasite fauna, chub, Belčišta Wetland

How to Cite
Stojanovski S., Velkova-Jordanoska L. & Blazhekovic-Dimovska D. 2025. Parasite Fauna of Chub Squalius squalus (Bonaparte, 1837) (Actinopterygii: Leuciscidae) from Belčišta Wetland, Republic of North Macedonia. Acta zoologica bulgarica 77 (3): 409-414.