Approccio sistematico a Gyrodactylus salaris (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea) e sua prima descrizione in Italia

Abstract

The monogenean Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 is one of the most important parasites of farmed fish in Europe mainly for the heavy damages and losses caused in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and for this reason in the past it was listed as a List III pathogen under the Fish Health Directive 91/67/EEC. Although rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) represents a suitable carrier host for G. salaris, the presence of this species has been never officially reported in Italy. More in general, information about the identity of Gyrodactylus species diffused in Italian rainbow trout farms are very scarce. Therefore during 2004 and 2005 a survey was carried out in 8 rainbow trout farms in order to search for and identify Gyrodactylus species. Morphological and molecular features of Gyrodactylus specimens collected allowed to identify 4 different species, G. salaris, G. teuchis, G. derjavini and G. truttae and to point out for the first time the presence of G. salaris and G. teuchis on the national territory.