Trichodina Puytoraci Lom, 1962 and Trichodina Lepsii Lom, 1962 (Peritrichida: Ciliophora) Infestations on Mugilids Caught at the Black Sea Coast of Sinop in Turkey

Abstract

Two trichodina species, Trichodina puytoraci Lom. 1962 and Trichodina lepsii Lom. 1962, were identified for the first time on Mugil cephalus L., 1758 and Liza aurata Risso, 1810 caught in the Black Sea off Sinop in Turkey. Both parasite species were found to be specific for Mugilids and were not encountered on any other fish species found in the same sampling site. While the infestation prevalence (%) and mean intensity level were 100% and 188.5 ± 56.3 trichodina per infested fish, respectively, for M. cephalus, they were 40.6% and 5.46 ± 1.07 trichodina per infested fish for L. aurata. The taxonomic and morphometric data are also presented.