Aphanius sophiae (Actinoptrygii, Cyprinodontidae), a new host for Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ciliophora) reported from Iran

Aphanius sophiae (Heckel, 1849) or soffia tooth-carp is endemic species to the endorheic Kor River basin, Fars Province, Southwest of Iran. In spite of importance of this species as a biologic control of anopheles larvae, little attention has been paid to its diseases particularly parasitic infections. A total of 24 A. Sophiae (12 males and 12 females) in Safashahr spring, Kor River basin, were collected by using dip net in February 2012. Surface of all fish were gross examined and screened for any swelling and blisters. All of the examined specimens (100 %) were infected with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Infected fish typically developed small blister-like raised lesions on the body surface. The current study presents infection of A. sophiae with I. multifiliis for the first time from Iran. Hence, owing to considerable unexplored area of Iran further studies are required to increase our knowledge about parasitic infections of this fish.