HELMINTH COMMUNITIES AND HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN MACEDONIAN VIMBA AND FISH PARASITES OF THE MARITSA RIVER, BULGARIA

Biodiversity and ecological particularities of the parasite communities of the Macedonian Vimba (Vimba melanops (Heckel, 1837)) from the Maritsa River were studied during 2013. Thirty two specimens of V. melanops were examined with standard techniques for parasites and heavy metal contamination. The purpose of this research is to represent new data for the biodiversity, prevalence, intensity and mean intensity, mean abundance of parasite communities of V. melanops from the Maritsa River. Concentration of heavy metals in fish (muscle, liver, intestines and bones), some endohelminth species as bioindicators and bottom sediments were analyzed. The obtained results for the parasite communities of V. melanops correspond and are in close connection with dependence of the biology and ecology of the determined species of helminthes and the place of the intermediate hosts as bioindicators for the status of the studied natural freshwater ecosystems. The results may be applied in the various monitoring systems for assessment and forecast of the Maritsa River condition. Keywords: parasite communities, heavy metals, bioindication, Vimba melanops, river Maritsa