The First Record of the Glugea sp. (Microsporea, Glugeida) on the Alosa fallax (Lacepède, 1803) was Caught in the Marine Waters of Syria (Eastern Mediterranean)

A new microsporidia Glugea sp. was found in Alosa fallax caught on 7/24/2023 AD from the Syrian coasts in the Ras Al-Basit area (35.8524°N, 35.8378°E) using Purse nets. 1,200 fish Samples were collected during two years between 10/2021 and 10/2023 to study the nutrition, reproduction, and growth of Alosa fallax. This was the only infection with the parasite Glugea sp. The parasite develops in large xenomas and is generally visible with the naked eye in the connective tissue around the pyloric caeca of the host. Xenoma were often rounded but would be occasionally ovoid or irregular in shape, generally creamy but rarely opaque, and filled with mature spores. the anatomical and histological characteristics were consistent with scientific references. This is the first record of the parasite Glugea sp. In Syrian marine waters (and the eastern Mediterranean). This study contributes to updating the taxonomic database of marine fish parasites. The possibility of detecting and classifying new parasitic species also gives us an idea of the ability of parasites to adapt to new environments.