The Influence of Parasitic Infection on the Black Sea Whiting, Merlangius merlangus euxinus (Gadidae), Morphophysiological and Biochemical Parameters

Abstract

Abstract Complex influence of infection by myxosporeans Myxidium gadi Georgevitsch, 1916; Ceratomyxa merlangi Zaika, 1966 and nematode Hysterothylacium aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802) on the morphophysiological and biochemical parameters of the Black sea whiting Merlangius merlangus euxinus (Nordmann, 1840) were studied. Significant decrease of spleenosomatic index and increase of hepatosomatic index in fish with average and high intensity of infection were found. The dependence of hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities on intensity of infection was observed. Increase of superoxidismutase, catalase, glutation-S-transferase activities in fish with average and high intensity of infection and decrease of peroxidase activity in specimens with average intensity of infection were shown.