Sinergasilus polycolpus, a new copepod species in the ichthyoparasitofauna of Serbia and Montenegro

Abstract

The parasitic copepod Sinergasilus polycolpus was identified on the gills of bighead carp Aristichthys nobilis from 2 localities (Kladovo and Slankamen) in the Serbian part of the River Danube. This parasite is species-specific for 2 Chinese carp, the bighead carp and the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. It was accidentally introduced into Serbia and Montenegro together with fry of these herbivorous carp intended for aquaculture and control of phytoplankton blooms. There is no record in the available literature of this parasite for European freshwaters. Our identification of S. polycolpus signals the possible spread of the infectious disease sinergasilosis in natural freshwaters and in fishponds, similar to bothriocephalosis, caused by Bothriocephalus opsariichthydis, which was introduced with the fry of various herbivorous species from the Amour River basin (USSR) into almost all countries throughout the world.