Morphometric and Molecular Identification of Argulus japonicus (Thiele 1900) on Cyprinus carpio from Three Different Areas in Erbil Province, Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Karem, Rostam; Abdullah, Samall Mohammad Amin

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.427836.6674

Morphometric and Molecular Identification of Argulus japonicus (Thiele 1900) on Cyprinus carpio from Three Different Areas in Erbil Province, Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Fish health and production, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq

² Department of Fish Recourses and Aquatic Animal, College of Agricultural Engineering Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq.

10.21608/ejabf.2025.427836.6674

Abstract

The current study aimed to characterize the morphological and molecular features of A. japonicus from Cyprinus carpio at three aquaculture sites in Erbil Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. A total of 1,382 fish were examined, in addition ectoparasite specimens were collected. The specimens were identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular analysis using PCR amplification and sequence of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 18S rRNA genes. At Ankawa Fish Hatchery, the highest percentage of A. japonicus infestation with a percentage of 41.26% marked a predilection site of attachment to the head and caudal fin of the host. SEM analysis showed clear morphological adaptations of the parasite to attach parasite and feed. Species identification was confirmed by molecular data and a strong phylogenetic distance was observed between A. foliaceus and closely related groups. In addition, the whole mitochondrial genome of A. japonicus was determined, which showed similar gene order and a high A+T bias. The combination of morphological and molecular analysis was essential to improve in situ identifying parasite species and document the distribution of the parasite. Thus, these findings would provide significant information for fish health management and control strategy in regional aquaculture systems.

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