A report of plerocercoid of Ligula intestinalis (Cestode) in the cyprinid fish Barbus sharpeyi

Abstract

Ligulosis is a condition that occurs in fishes due to infection with the larval stage (plerocercoids) of a tapeworm Ligula intestinalis The infected fishes suffers from functional disturbance of the internal organs due to displacement of these organs with the plerocercoid in the abdominal cavity and swelling of the abdomen The condition has been reported in some Iraqi fishes such as Aspirus vorax Acanthobrama centisquama .Present report records the plerocercoid in the abdominal cavity of the first time in Mosul (Iraq).