S Mosafer - Department of Marine Biology. Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University. Noor
Z Khoshnood - Department of Marine Biology. Faculty of Science, Science and Research branch of Azad Islamic University of Tehran

Objective: To study parasitic infection of the cultured Persian sturgeon fry, Acipenser persicus Method & Materials: Persian sturgeon fry, Acipenser persicus (2-3g in body weight) were obtained from Shahid Beheshti Hatchery, Rasht, Iran. Fish were fixed in 70% ethanol for studying the parasitic infection. Results & Conclusion: Crustacean parasite, Argulus sp. was founded on gill surfaces, operculum, bases of the fines and the skin. Argulus sp. can infect fish directly and it did not have any larval or cyst stages in its life cycle. Most amounts of this parasite were gained from the operculum. Argulus sp. adhered to host body surface by two curved hooks and first pair of maxilla that differed to oral suckers and can made sever injuries in skin, gill or operculum. Injuries may followed by opportunistic factors like other parasites or bacteria. Infections and losing blood caused by Argulus sp. can weak the fish immune system and ended to death. Because of the fact that every year millions of the Persian sturgeon finger lings are released from the hatcheries to the Caspian Sea, parasitic infection such as infection with Argulus sp. should be monitored in hatcheries pools.

Persian Sturgeon, Argulus, Parasitic infection, Acipenser persicus