Myxozoan infection in thinlip mullet Chelon ramada (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae) in the Sea of Galilee

Mullets (Mugilidae) are economically important fish in Israel. Two species of mugilids (i.e., the thinlip mullet Chelon ramada and the flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus) have been stocked in the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) in order to increase fishermen's income and lake water quality. These catadromous species do not reproduce in the lake, consequently, fingerlings have been introduced every year since 1958. Following a survey of myxozoan infections in the Sea of Galilee, we described Myxobolus pupkoi n. sp. infecting the gill arches, and reported Myxobolus exiguus from visceral peritoneum and gall bladder of C. ramada. The prevalence of infection of both Myxobolus pupkoi n. sp. and M. exiguus were 11.5% (2/23). Our study indicates that the parasites infecting C. ramada belong to a lineage of myxozoans infecting mugilids. This result suggests that the infection took place in the Mediterranean Sea, where the fingerlings were caught, before their introduction into the Sea of Galilee. Since 2018 only farm-raised fingerlings have been introduced. We thus recommend to closely monitor the presence of these parasites in the future to determine if the presence of parasites disappear with the introduction of farm-raised fingerlings.

Automated summary

The economically important mullets in Israel have been stocked in the Sea of Galilee to increase income and water quality. A study found new species of myxozoan infections in the gill arches and reported infections in the visceral peritoneum and gall bladder of one species of mullet. The parasites may have been contracted in the Mediterranean Sea before introduction into the Sea of Galilee.