The monogenean Gyrodactylus lavareti Malmberg, 1957 is recorded here in the present study for the first time in Iraq from gills of the common carp Cyprinus carpio. This is the twentieth gyrodactylid species to be recorded from fishes of Iraq. The description and measurements of this parasite as well as its illustration were given.   
 

    The monogeneans Gyrodactylus dzhalilovi Ergens & Ashurova, 1984, G. magnus Konovalov, 1967 and G. matovi Ergens & Kakachava-Avramova, 1966 were recorded in this study for the first time in Iraq from gills of the common carp Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 collected from Tigris River in Baghdad city. The description, measurements and illustrations of these parasites were given.

    The examination of gills of the common carp Cyprinus carpio revealed the presence of two species of the family Trichodinidae belonging to the genus Dipartiella (Raabe, 1959) Stein, 1961 namely D. indiana Saha and Bandyopadhyay, 2017 and D. kazubski Mitra and Bandyopadhyay, 2009 for the first time in Iraq from Al-Graiat location on the Tigris River at Baghdad city. This also represents the first record of the genus Dipartiella from fishes of Iraq. The descriptions and measurements of these two parasite species as well as their illustrations were given.

First record of Myxobolus insignis Eiras, Malta, Varella, Pavanelli, 2005 (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) in Iraq from gills of the common carp Cyprinus carpio

In present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of Chlorpyrifos insecticide on carp Cyprinus carpio L. through acute toxicity bioassay. The LC50 were estimated as 1897, 1266, 985 and 792 μg/L during 24 , 48, 72 and 96 hr. respectively by using the concentrations 500 , 1000, 1500 , 2000, 2500 and 3000 μg/L indicating high sensitivity of fish to chlorpyrifos. The behavioral response observed in the fish were erratic swimming, loss of reflex, hyperactivities, decrease in appetite secretion of mucus, increase movement of operculum and hyperventilation . These effects increased with increasing concentration of the chlorpyrifos and duration of exposure.

Common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.) juveniles  averaging 7.68± 0.25 - 8.12± 1.14 g in weight were  used for 6 weeks to investigate their survival and growth preferences. The experimented carp were stocked at 12 tanks formerly adjusted with different pH levels values as: 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0.  Growth and survival of common carp was assessed every Sunday of each week. Growth rates significantly (P < 0.05 ) increased  at pH 7 and  pH8 respectively. Therefore, the results suggest that the water with pH ranged from 7 to 8 was the best range for growth performance and survival rate of carp. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved at pH 6  and 9 respectively. In general, the results indicated that water p

Aqueous extract of poppy plant) Papaver nudicaule) with five concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250) mg/l were used to anesthetize fingerlings of the common carp Cyprinus carpio (Mean total length 8.91 ± 0.31 cm and mean total weight 7.72 ± 1.19 gm) instead of the traditional use of MS-222. Results showed that extracted solution of poppy have partial and overall anesthesia effect on these fishes with inverse relationship between the concentrations used and the time needed to reach partial and overall anesthesia, and also direct relationship between concentrations used and time needed for fish recovery. Best results were obtained by using a concentration of 250 mg/l, where time for partial anesthesia was 8 ± 1.52 m

The monogenean Gyrodactylus bychowskianus Bogolepova, 1950 is recorded in the present study for the first time in Iraq from the gills of the cyprinid fish Arabibarbus grypus (Heckel, 1843); which was collected from the Tigris River at Al-Taji Beach north of Baghdad Province during the period from July until November 2018.

    Three monogenean species of the genus Gyrodactylus viz. G. cotti Roman, 1956 on gills of Planiliza abu, G. mikailovi Ergens & Ibragimov, 1976 on gills of Chondrostoma regium and G. prostae Ergens, 1963 on gills of Alburnus caeruleus were recorded from Tigris river at Al-Shawwaka region, Baghdad. The description and measurements of these parasites as well as their illustrations where given. All these parasites are recorded here for the first time in Iraq.  
 

The development of thyroid gland in five developmental stages of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. The thyroid originates from the pharyngeal floor as a median ventral keel in late embryos having four pairs of arches. It differentiates into profollicular aggergations and true follicles with flattened walls and empty lumina or with lumina filled with cotton waste-like material in three days-old elvers. Secretion of homogeneous eosinophilic colloid with a limited increase in the height of follicular wall is noted in five days-old elvers. In nine days-old individuals the follicles increase in size due to coallescence. The thyroid gland reaches its maximal activity as judged by its histology in one-two months-old individuals. The gland is of t