First observation of Posthodiplostomum cuticola (Nordmann, 1832) metacercariae in cypriniformes from Croatia

During an ichthyological study of the Ilova River, rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) infected with Posthodiplostomum cuticola was observed for the first time in Croatia. Later, a more detailed study was made at the same sampling point and the distribution of P. cuticola in the fish species present was examined. The condition of the hosts and parasitological indices such as prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of all hosts examined were investigated. Metacercariae of P. cuticola were most prevalent (100 %) in Rutilus rutilus, Pseudorasbora parva, Leuciscus leuciscus and Alburnus alburnus, slightly lower (93.94 %) in Leuciscus cephalus, substantially lower in Rhodeus amarus (66.67 %) and Barbatula barbatula (50 %) while the lowest prevalence was found in Gobio gobio (47.83 %). The correlation coefficient between number of parasites and total and standard length, weight and Fulton’s condition index of sampled specimen was significant only for L. cephalus.