Benedenia sp. Infestation Along with Motile Aeromonas Septicemia in Common Stingray

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the cause of mortalities occurring in common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) individuals held in a public aquarium. Materials and Methods: Moribund common stingrays (approx. 1 m in length and 2 kg in weight) that had previously been caught by trawling and placed in the quarantine tanks in a public aquarium were examined to determine the cause of mortalities. Results: The affected common stingrays had haemorrhages on the ventral side of the body. Internally, the liver was pale and pseudotubercules were observed in the spleen. In the examined specimens, monogenean parasites were observed in blisters on the skin of the dorsal side of the body. According to their morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as gene sequence analysis, the parasites were identified as Benedenia sp., and the bacterial isolates were identified as Aeromonas hydrophila. Conclusion: In this study, Benedenia sp. is reported initially, along with motile Aeromonas septicemia in common stingray. Keywords: Common stingray, Dasyatis pastinaca, benedenia, Aeromonas hydrophila