First Report of Infection with Lernea (Linnaeus, 1758) in Rainbow Trout Cage Culture in Iran

Abstract

Aqueous Lazanea parasite was one of the most devastating parasitic infections in freshwater fishes that creates Lernazis disease. This study for the first time examined the contamination rate to this parasite in farmed rainbow trout in the cage system in aqueous sources of northwestern of Iran from epidemiological perspective. Totally, among 240 examined samples (average weight 175 g), 33 numbers i.e. 13.8% of the fishes were infected with the parasite. Also, the biological characteristics of the Lazanea parasite such as season, water temperature, water resources of farms and health and managerial issues were studied to specify causes of pollution in the studied cages. In various seasons' comparison, the most pollution was seen in summer with 40%, while in winter, no infestation to parasite was found. This represents a direct impact of the water temperature and season in the life cycle of the parasite. This is the first report of the Lazanea parasite on rainbow trout in farmed cage system in Iran.