The present study was undertaken to determine the incidence of helminth parasites in fishes with special reference to water quality parameters in Dal Lake and River Jhelum and correlate the observations. Water, fish, and parasite samples were collected during different seasons from various sites and processed. Three fish species, namely, Schizothorax niger Heckel 1838, Schizothorax esocinus Heckel 1838, and Schizothorax curvifrons Heckel 1838, were recovered from these water bodies. The physicochemical parameters temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and free carbon dioxide showed variation vis-à-vis the season and location of the stations in water bodies. Acanthocephalan parasite Pomphorhynchus kashmirensis Kaw 1941 (27.47%) and two intestinal cestodes Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti 1934 (30.63%) and Adenoscolex oreini Fotedar 1958 (32.43%) were recovered from all the three species of Schizothorax. All the three parasites showed higher prevalence during summer and the least prevalence during winter. Parasitic infections were prevalent more in male fishes compared to females. The presence of the parasites had reduced the condition coefficient of the infected fishes in both water bodies. The study also showed that some of the physicochemical features showed a significant positive correlation with the prevalence.

Fishes infected with Adenoscolex oreini appeared anemic and the abdomen viscera appeared red on opening the abdomen and the abdominal fluid was tinged red. On opening the intestine necrotic debris was present on the surface and numerous parasites were pesent. The histopathological alterations observed in the intestine of fish were (severe degenerative and necrotic changes in the intestinal mucosa as well as edema between submucosa and mucosa). In parasitized Schizothorax niger, hyperplasia of intestinal mucous cells and enhanced mucus secretion were also noticed. Cestode bodies were covered with an adherent mucus blanket. The analysis of the seasonal variation on the histological parameters leads to the conclusion that the distribution or the severity of the lesions observed in the these organs were not related to the seasons. Such information confirms that histopathological alterations are good biomarkers for field assessment, in particular in tropical areas that are naturally subject to a multiplicity of environmental variations. It must be emphasized that histopathology is able to evaluate the early effects and the responses to acute exposure to parasitic infections and chemical stressors.

Avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 (AMPV1) infects a wide range of avian species leading to broader range of clinical symptoms. The ease of transmission has allowed the virus to spread worldwide with varying degree of virulence depending upon virus strain and host range. Rapid detection is an important step to prevent an outbreak of the disease. The present study was carried out to detect APMV-1 from chicken reared in Kashmir Valley. Out of 12 suspected disease outbreaks, all were positive for AMPV-1. APMV-1 was detected using Matrix Protein gene (M gene) by RT-PCR. Detection by M gene is used for primary screening of the APMV-1 in chicken with both virulent and avirulent forms.

Background: Fecundity is an important parameter in fisheries that predicts the reproductive capability of fish stock. Information on the fecundity of Common carp is helpful in estimating the amount of offspring produced in spawning season, which is essential for the stock assessment of the species. Assessment of the fecundity of a fish is essential for evaluating the commercial potentialities of its stock, life history, practical culture and actual management of the fishery. Common carp is a commercially important fish which has the potential to meet the demand of food in the country. Scanty of data is available on fecundity parameter of common carp in Kashmir waters. Therefore, this research work aims to estimate the fecundity of Common carp collected from the Dal lake of Kashmir. Methods: The present study aims to estimate the fecundity of Common carp, [Cyprinus carpio var. communis] existing in Dal Lake, Kashmir. The 30 fish samples were collected once every month from the month of January 2018 to December 2018. Fishes were brought to Fisheries Resource Management (FRM), Faculty of Fisheries, SKUAST-K Laboratory for the estimation of total length, weight of fishes and weight of ovaries. Gravimetric and actual counting method was used for the estimation of fecundity. Result: It was observed that the number of eggs varied from 16650 (for a fish with total length 180mm and total weight 120 g) to 129000 (for a fish with total length 430 mm and total weight 1300 g. The mean absolute fecundity was recorded as 68864.07± 6563.59 for a fish with a mean total length of 301.43 ± 13.93 mm and mean total weight of 435.1 ± 66.51 g. The relative fecundity ranged from 99.2-240.8 and the mean relative fecundity was 185.96. Significant positive correlation was found between fish weight and absolute fecundity. (r= 0.907, p less than 0.01), fish length and absolute fecundity (r= 0.976, p less than 0.01), Ovary weight and absolute fecundity (r= 0.998, p less than 0.01). Relative fecundity showed a significant negative correlation with weight, length and absolute fecundity (r= -0.747, p less than 0.01; r= -0.419, p less than 0.05 and r= -0.460, p less than 0.05 respectively.

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