Molecular identification of the parasite ligula intestinalis identified in alburnus adanensis

This study covers the molecular identification of the Ligula intestinalis parasite identified in Alburnus adanensis, which was caught from Menzelet Dam Lake in Kahramanmaraş province. For this purpose, parasite samples were taken from the intestines of 60 Alburnus adanensis which were caught in January, February, March, April, May, June 2018. The parasites were stored in the sample bottles containing 70% alcohol. 27 Ligula intestinalis were identified by morphological and staining process. For isolating the DNA of Ligula intestinalis, a special tissue kit for parasites was used. Specific primers were used in the molecular identification of Ligula intestinalis by PCR technique. Therefore, all of these parasites were confirmed to be Ligula intestinalis, molecularly. As a result of this study, it was determined that the parasite Ligula intestinalis was found in alburnus adanensis, which was caught in Kahramanmaraş province. While the identification of the parasite Ligula intestinalis by morphological and staining methods took a long time, the identification of the parasite by PCR technique was accomplished in a short time. The success of this study will open the way for more original and comprehensive studies on molecular identification of parasitic agents in fish.