Monogenean Parasites of Some Cyprinid Fish in Murat River: Species Composition, Seasonal Variations, and Host Preferences

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This study investigates the species diversity, host associations, and seasonal distribution of monogenean parasites in four cyprinid fish species—Capoeta umbla, Cyprinion macrostomum, Chondrostoma regium, and Squalius cephalus—inhabiting the Murat River in Bingöl Province, Türkiye, between 2017 and 2019. A total of 365 specimens were examined, revealing 11 monogenean species, comprising six Dactylogyrus, two Dogielius, and three Gyrodactylus species. The overall infection prevalence was 71.0%, with a mean intensity of 29.9 ± 36.9 parasites per infected host. C. umbla exhibited the highest infection prevalence and parasite load among the studied hosts. Statistical analyses (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.001) indicated significant variation in parasite burden among host species. Seasonally, parasite intensity was highest in spring and winter, with a noticeable decline during summer. Although abiotic factors such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH showed seasonal fluctuations, no significant correlations were found between these parameters and overall parasite burden. The results suggest that monogenean infestations are primarily shaped by host-related biological factors and that the parasite species inhabiting the Murat River exhibit a broad ecological tolerance to environmental variation.