This is the first study on parasite fauna of Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 in Turkish waters. Mussel samples were collected monthly at 3 sampling stations on the coast of Sinop on the Black Sea in the period between August 2012 and July 2013. A total of 1740 mussels were examined for parasites using standard parasitological investigation procedures. The parasites identified included the following: 2 protozoans, Nematopsis legeri (32.12%) and Peniculistoma mytili (6.72%); 1 turbellarian, Urastoma cyprinae (6.32%); 1 trematode, Parvatrema duboisi (4.54%); and 1 polychaeta, Polydora ciliata (2.24%). All identified species are illustrated in figures and constitute new records of Turkish parasite fauna
This is the first comprehensive research study on the parasites of Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from the Sinop coasts of the Black Sea and their relationships with several environmental and biotic factors. A total of 1740 mussels were collected monthly at three sampling localities representing different ecosystems in the period between August 2012 and July 2013 and examined for parasites. Identified parasites were Nematopsis legeri, Peniculistoma mytili, Urastoma cyprinae, Parvatrema duboisi and Polydora ciliata. Infection prevalence (%), mean intensity and mean abundance values of each parasite species were calculated according to season, sampling localities and length classes of mussel. Nematopsis legeri was the most prevalent species (32.5%), followed by Pe. mytili (6.70%), U. cyprinae (6.30%), Pa. duboisi (4.50%) and Po. ciliata (2.20%). Nematopsis legeri and Parvatrema duboisi had their highest infection prevalence and intensity values in sampling locality III where secondary hosts present to complete their life cycle and larger sized mussels had higher parasite loads. Statistically significant differences were determined in the prevalence of infection and intensity values among seasons, length classes of mussel and sampling localities of each parasite species. The present study provided valuable information on mussel parasites and their relationships with host length, seasons and ecology.
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