Parasitism (Flamingolepis liguloides Gervais, 1847) with High Prevalence in Brine Shrimp Population from Çamaltı Saltworks

Abstract

The species of Artemia (Brine shrimp) populations in saltworks have been gaining an increasing popularity for aquaculture and for its significance for aquatic ecosystem as being an important sustainance for water birds in hypersaline food webs. Besides, species in the genus Artemia sp. are the intermediate host of severe cestode species which are associated with flamingos. In this study, the prevalence of Flamingolepis liguloides parasitism in Artemia parthenogenetica in Turkie was reported. Infected A. parthenogenetica (nature strain) was sampled in saltpans from April to September 2022, where flamingo birds and salt production were available for parasitological diagnosis. The parasites were determined in the abdomen, thorax and near the gut tract of A. parthenogenetica. The highest prevalence of parasite was found in juvenile individuals as 86.67±1.45% and 76.06±1.16% in adults in May. The main intensity was varied from 1.18±0.01 to 1.92±0.06 parasites per infected host depending on the sampling months and age of brine shrimp. The most abundant parasite infestation was recorded as 1.44±0.02 parasites per investigated host in juvenile brine shrimp in June since seasonal conditions are favorable for such infestation.