Comparative karyological analysis of four diplozoid species (Monogenea, Diplozoidae), gill parasites of cyprinid fishes.

The present study has revealed new data on chromosome complements of diplozoid parasites, namely Diplozoon paradoxum from freshwater bream Abramis brama, Paradiplozoon bliccae from white bream Blicca bjoerkna, Paradiplozoon sapae from white-eye bream Ballerus sapa, and Paradiplozoon nagibinae from zope Ballerus ballerus. Particularly, D. paradoxum is characterized by four pairs (2n=8) of long (up to 22.

Ethanol-fixed material used for both classical and molecular identification purposes: Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Monogenea: Diplozoidae) as a case parasite species.

This study is focused on the feasibility of two treatments of alcohol-fixed monogenean parasites which are intended to be use for the combined morphological and molecular characterizations. The monogenean parasite, Eudiplozoon nipponicum, was selected as a model parasite species; however it is expected that these techniques will be suitable for other monogeneans and other parasitic families. The haptor of diplozoid parasites is equipped with sclerotized attachment clamps and central hooks which are utilized for morphological identification.