Parasite fauna of Golden Grey Mullet Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) collected from Lower Kızılırmak Delta in Samsun, Turkey

The mugilids are among the most cosmopolitan teleost fishes and they are widely distributed in fresh, brackish and coastal marine waters of the tropical and temperate regions of the world. Liza aurata is one of eight mugilid species survive in Turkish waters. Parasite fauna of the golden grey mullet Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) collected from Lower Kızılırmak Delta in Samsun, Turkey were investigated in the present study. Standard parasitological investigation methods were applied and standard indices of infection were calculated. A total of 10 parasite species were identified and they are; Trichodina puytoraci, Trichodina lepsii, Ligophorus mediterraneus, Ligophorus cephali, Microcotyle mugilis, Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa, Haplosplanchnus pachysomus, Tylodelphys clavata, Neoechinorhyncus agilis and Ergasilus lizae. Overall infection prevalence was 100 % and both the mean intensity and abundance values were 190.09 ± 43.15 parasites per infected/examined fish. Ligophorus-group parasites were the most abundant (97.83 %) and Tylodelphys clavata was the least (4.35 %) among all parasite species identified. Water temperature (C), dissolved oxygen (mg/lt), salinity (ppt) and nitrate (mg/lt) values were also presented. According to results obtained in the present study, Ligophorus cephali, Ligophorus mediterraneus, Thylodelphys clavata and Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa are new parasite records for L. aurata and Ligophorus mediterraneus, Ligophorus cephali and Ergasilus lizae are the new parasite records for Turkish parasite fauna of fish in Turkey.