New data on the parasites and parasite communities of Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Danube River, Bulgaria

Endoparasites Koshava Kudelin Novo selo

Authors

  • Radoslava Zaharieva
    radoslava.zaharieva7@gmail.com
    Hydrology and Water Management Research Center, National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography (NIGGG), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 3, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria.
  • Petya Zaharieva Hydrology and Water Management Research Center, National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography (NIGGG), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 3, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria.
  • Diana Kirin Department of Chemistry, Phytopharmacy and Ecology, and Environmental Protection, Agricultural University-Plovdiv, 12 Mendeleev Blvd., Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria.
October 25, 2025

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The present study aims to provide new data on the parasites and the first data on the parasite communities of the roach Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Bulgarian section of the Danube River. The fish were caught in 2019-2021 from three biotopes (Koshava, Kudelin, and Novo Selo). Fish samples were collected during spring, summer, and autumn. A total of 152 R. rutilus specimens were examined. Nine helminth species were isolated: three species of Trematoda, two Cestoda, two Acanthocephala, and two Nematoda. The component community and infracommunity of the roach from the Danube River, Kudelin biotope, were examined. Rutilus rutilus is a new host record for six helminth species in Bulgaria.