Distribution of Helminth Parasites in Intestines and Their Seasonal Rate of Infestation in Three Freshwater Fishes of Kashmir

Abstract

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.

Heavy metals, parasitologic and oxidative stress biomarker investigations in Heterotis niloticus from Lekki Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria

“…Conventional fishing methods with the ability to destroy the plankton community in the lagoon, thereby enhancing food competition and other environmental stressors arising from anthropogenic activities along the shores, are other reasons that may be ascribed to the prevalence of parasitic infection in this study [ 48 ]. Furthermore, significantly higher intensity of infection by acanthocephalans in male fish than in female fish have been previously reported [ 49 , 50 ]. The influence of sex on the susceptibility of animals to infections may be due to genetic predisposition and differential susceptibility owing to hormonal control, sampling season and geographical differences [ 50 , 51 ].…”

“…Furthermore, significantly higher intensity of infection by acanthocephalans in male fish than in female fish have been previously reported [ 49 , 50 ]. The influence of sex on the susceptibility of animals to infections may be due to genetic predisposition and differential susceptibility owing to hormonal control, sampling season and geographical differences [ 50 , 51 ].…”

Increased temperature has no consequence for behavioral manipulation despite effects on both partners in the interaction between a crustacean host and a manipulative parasite

“…For instance, temperature affects both the development time of acanthocephalan parasites in their intermediate hosts 58 , 59 and their prevalence and abundance in their definitive fish hosts 60 . This is reflected in field studies having reported seasonal effects in the prevalence and intensity of infection with acanthocephalans in both intermediate and definitive hosts 61 – 65 . So far, however, only a limited number of studies have provided evidence for a joint effect of temperature and infection with acanthocephalan parasites on the ecological role of their intermediate host species.…”

Histopathological changes induced by the digenean intestinal parasite Masenia nkomatiensis Dumbo, Dos Santos, & Avenant‐Oldewage, 2019 of the catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) from Incomati Basin, Mozambique

“…Helminths are one of the major parasite groups infecting fish and are a major cause of losses in fish farming (Wali et al, 2016). Cestodes and acanthocephalans are particularly well known for inflicting severe damage due to their deep penetration into the gut tissue of their hosts (Dezfuli, Bosi, DePasquale, Manera, & Giari, 2016).…”