Endohelminth fauna of barbel Barbus barbus (L. 1758) in the Serbian section of the Danube River, with dominance of acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laeavis

Abstract

Infection of the barbel Barbus barbus (L. 1758) with endohelminths was observed in fish collected from eight localities in the Serbian part of the Danube River between September 2004 - 2009. Temporal variations in the number of parasites per fish sample were noted. A total of 194 fish specimens of different age, mostly males, were examined. The most prevalent parasitic species was the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis, the dominant species of the intestinal component communities at all sampling sites which were recorded in 100% of the fish examined.