Atheer Hussain Ali

The frequent use of antibiotics and chemicals by ornamental fish farmers causes health problems for both the fishes and the consumer. Therefore, the current study aimed to use environment- friendly materials as alternative therapeutic for some fungal diseases affecting ornamental fish Carassius auratus, using nano-chitosan gel and comparison its efficacy with that of pure chitosan gel. In the laboratory, the fungus was isolated from fish’s skin lesion and it identified morphologically and molecularly as Mucor circinelloides. Goldfish were experimentally infected with the fungus, and disease symptoms appeared ten days post infection. They were then treated with two types of ecofriendly compounds (pure chitosan gel and nano-chitosan gel) to compare their therapeutic efficacy. This study focused on evaluating the inhibitory efficacy of the fungus under in vitro conditions using three different concentrations of pure chitosan gel and Nano-chitosan gel (0.5%, 1%, and 2%). In vitro results demonstrated that nano-chitosan gel at 2% concentration achieved the highest inhibition zone (47.3 ± 3.2 mm), whereas pure chitosan gel at the same concentration reached 27.3 ± 2.1 mm (mean ± SD, n = 3). Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA showed significant differences among treatments (P ≤ 0.05). Histological examinations of In vivo results demonstrated the activity of the nano-chitosan treatment in promoting the healing, with the epidermis, dermis, and muscle layers returning to their normal state within a shorter timeframe compared with pure chitosan gel treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that nano-chitosan gel represents a promising, more efficient, and environment- friendly treatment option for fungal skin infections in ornamental fish. The isolation and registration of the fungus. M. circinelloides as a fish pathogen is for the first record in Iraq and it is registered at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under accession number LC904069.

Dermoergasilus planilizai sp. nov. is described from the gills of the abu mullet Planiliza abu (Heckel), the only freshwater member of the Mugilidae occurring in the Mesopotamian region. Specimens were collected from the Al-Gharraf River, southern Iraq. The new species is distinguished from its closest congener, Dermoergasilus varicoleus [13]; by the following combination of characters: (i) setae on caudal rami distinctly longer than the digitiform process (vs. shorter); (ii) terminal spines on endopod of leg 1 strongly curved (vs. straight); and (iii) free segment of leg 5 approximately three times longer than the basal segment (vs. twice as long). (iv) Further separation is supported by antennal proportions; the second and third endopodal segments together of the antenna equal to 41.6% in D. planilizai sp. nov. (vs. 60% in D. varicoleus).

This study was aim to select three parasites that infect three different fish species in Shatt Al-Arab River: abu mullet Planiliza abu (Heckel) a native freshwater fish; green back mullet Planiliza subviridis (Val.), a marine fish that periodically enters the Shatt Al-Arab River for feeding, and Indian shad Tenualosa ilisha an anadromous fish enters the river for spawning. Examination of endoparasites of three fish species: P. abu, P. subviridis and T. ilisha, they were infected with the thornhead Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis Amin, Al-Sady, Mhaisen & Bassat, 2001, the thornhead N. dimorphospinus Amin & Sey, 1996, and a trematode Faustula basiri Hafeezullah & Siddiqi, 1970, respectively. Five heavy or trace metals (Aluminum, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium and Lead) were determined in each type of parasite and in muscles, liver and gills of each fish species. The measurements of each mineral were conducted on both infected and uninfected fishes to determine the effect of the internal parasites' efficiency on the accumulation of these metals in their tissues. The trematode was isolated from T. ilisha showed a high efficiency in reducing the accumulation of chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) in fish tissues and arsenic (As) in the gills of infected T. ilisha. The marine thornhead worm (N. dimorphospinus) parasite P. subviridis showed greater efficiency in reducing chromium (Cr) concentrations in infected fish compared with the riverine thornhead (N. iraqensis) parasite P. abu. Lead (Pb) concentrations exceeded the international safe levels for human consumption in fish meat (0.5-2 mg.kg-1 meat); with concentrations 2.05-2.07, and 2.76 in muscles of T. ilisha and P. abu respectively. As well as Chromium and Aluminum and Arsenic concentrations exceeded the internationally safe levels for human consumption permitted in fish meat (1-2 meat, 1-5 and 1.72-2.3 mg.kg-1 respectively) with 2.25 and 19.38-67.53 and 2.34 respectively in T. ilisha, muscles. The aluminum concentration for the P. subviridis and P. abu are 2.71 and 42.63.

The current study dealing with morphological description of three species of dactylogyrid monogenoideans parasitic on gills of Shoemaker spinefoot Siganus sutor off Iraq. A total of 136 specimens of this fish, have been collected from November 2019 to the end of December 2020, to detect their ectoparasites. Dactylogyrid monogenoids included Glyphidohaptor safiensis (5.9%), Tetrancistrum indicum (17.7%) and Tetrancistrum labyrinthus (18.4%). All recorded monogenoides in the current study represent their first record and description in Iraq and the Arabian Gulf, In addition, S. sutor represents a new host record for these parasites in the World.

Faustulidae sensu lato is a polyphyletic assemblage of digeneans that parasitise marine or euryhaline fish as adults in the gastrointestinal tract. In previous phylogenetic reconstructions, this family appeared to be represented by two groups nested within the Gymnophalloidea and Microphalloidea. However, the choice of a correct name for these groups was impossible without assessing the phylogenetic position of the type genus of the Faustulidae, Faustula Poche, 1925. In the current study, we provide morphological and molecular data on Faustula gangetica (Srivastava, 1935), which represents the first molecular data for the genus Faustula. Specimens of F. gangetica were found in Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton) from Shatt Al-Arab River, southern Iraq. We report the presence of discernible muscle fibres between the pharynx and the oral sucker, as well as a zone of distinctly differentiated transversely oriented muscle fibres located anterior to the common genital pore in this species for the first time. All molecular markers used in our study (ITS2 region, 28S rRNA gene) indicated that the genus Faustula is nested within the clade of gymnophalloid faustulids. Thus, Faustulidae sensu stricto is confirmed to belong to the Gymnophalloidea.

Tigris asp < /em> (Leuciscus vorax Heckel), locally known as "Shilik," is a native freshwater fish and an important table species for the Iraqi people. Recently, the population of this species has declined due to poor water quality, reduced water discharge, the presence of invasive species, anthropogenic impacts, and pollution. This study investigates the pathological effects of twin-worm (Paradiplozoon sp.) infestations on the gills of Leuciscus vorax (Tigris asp) from the Al-Gharraf River in Dhi-Qar Province, Iraq. Fish were collected between October and December 2023. Histopathological analysis revealed significant lesions, including necrosis of secondary lamellar epithelial cells, severe fibrosis in the primary lamellae, and vascular changes such as aneurysms. These lesions disrupted oxygen uptake, causing respiratory distress. Inflammatory cell infiltration, predominantly lymphocytes, was also observed, indicating an immune response to the infestation. The histopathological results showed fusion of gill filaments due to epithelial hyperplasia, which reduced the gill surface area and impaired respiration. Fibrotic changes and abnormal vascular formations further obstructed the respiratory surface, worsening fish health. The study recommends integrating advanced diagnostic methods—such as PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ultrasonography—for early detection and improved understanding of the parasite’s lifecycle and host-parasite interactions. These tools, combined with histopathological analysis, can enhance disease detection and help manage parasitic infestations, ensuring fish health and sustainability. This report represents the first study in Iraq on the pathological effects of Diplozoidea members on the gills of freshwater fish. It is also one of the few global reports documenting the impact of this relatively large parasite group on such vital fish tissue.

Parasitological examination of three species of marine fishes: Blackspot snapper Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters), Dory snapper L. fulviflamma (Forsskål) and L. indicus Allen, White & Erdmann (all Lutjanidae, Snappers); caught from Iraqi marine waters, Arabian Gulf during 2024. All these fishes are harboured the same dactylogyrid monogenoid which identified as Euryhaliotrema seyi Kritsky, 2012. Lutjanus ehrenbergii and L. fulviflamma also harboured Euryhaliotrema cardinale Kritsky & Justine in Kritsky, 2012 which considered this record in a new geographical area (Arabian Gulf). The illustrations of whole mount specimens for E. cardinale and E. seyi are given for the first time. This report represents the second work on monogenoids from lutjanid fishes in Iraq.

The snappers (Lutjanid fish) are an important food source for the Iraqi people. Three species of lutjanid fishes- the Blackspot snapper Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters, 1869), Dory snapper L. fulviflamma (Forsskål, 1775) and L. indicus Allen, White & Erdmann, 2013 were caught from Iraqi marine waters in the Arabian Gulf during 2024. The Blackspot snapper L. ehrenbergii and the Dory snapper L. fulviflamma were found to be infested with both Euryhaliotrema adelpha Kritsky & Justine in Kritsky, 2012 (reported here as a new host) and E. spirotubiforum (Zhang, 2001) Wu, Zhu, Xie & Li, 2006. L. indicus was infested only with E. spirotubiforum which is reported here for the first time from this host species and thi geographical area (the Arabian Gulf). Illustrations of whole- mount specimens are given for E. adelpha for the first time. This investigation represents the first report of monogenoids from lutjanid fishes in Iraq.

The Al-Gharraf River is a major distributary of the Tigris River, branching from its right bank at the Kut Dam and flowing into the Euphrates basin. It traverses the provinces of Wasit and Dhi-Qar before ending in the Al-Hammar marsh. This river is ecologically significant due to its diverse fish populations; however, the parasites inhabiting these fish remain understudied. The parasite diversity in the Al-Gharraf River comprises 28 species belonging to five major taxa: 12 species of Monogenoidea, 6 Trematoda species, 6 Cestoda species, 2 Nematoda species, and 2 Acanthocephala species, which have been isolated from nine different fish hosts. A comparison between current parasite assemblages and historical records indicates that most identified parasites show considerable colonization from the Tigris River. This pattern reflects either the specificity of intermediate hosts for internal parasites present in this region or the ecological conditions in the river that favor external parasites.

Leuciscidae species are the abundant and widely distributed fish species in Iraq's inland waters. They are complex species, and morphology makes them difficult to identify. Molecular analysis achieved and confirmed the morphological characters. Twenty specimens of Acanthobrama marmid were collected from two localities at Tigris River, in the middle of Iraq; 15 specimens from the Al-Zubaydia sub-district and five specimens from Al-Tharthar Lake. We used the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (cytb) gene to sequence the DNA of A. marmid. The following analysis are compared the sequences with those of other fish genera and species found in the Gene Bank. The barcoding result (DNA sequencing) in fishes found in the same family (Leuciscidae) showed that it fit with A. marmid. We conclude, the results of the current study, by using the cytochrome b (cytb) gene, are a successful tool and confirmed the morphological characters for accurate identification of A. marmid.