Digenetic Trematode parasites in two fresh water fishes Ophiocephalus punctatus and Xenentodon cancila from North west Himalayas

AbstractThe study was conducted during September 2018-August 2019 to study the digenetic trematode infection in fresh water fishes of some of the water bodies viz. Gho-manhasan, Chakrali and Chadwal of Jammu region of J&K union territory. A total of 220 fishes comprisingOphiocephalus punctatus andXenentodon cancila belonging to families Channidae and Belonidae respectively were examined. A total of 4 digenetic trematode parasites belonging to 4 different families i.e.,Euclinostomum heterostomum (Clinostomidae Luhe, 1901);Phyllodistomum tripathi (Gorgoderidae Looss, 1901);Genarchopsis piscicola (Hemiuridae, Luhe, 1901), andBucephalopsis karvei (Bucephalidae Poche, 1907) were detected. The overall prevalence of digenetic trematode infection was 65.90% and the mean intensity was 3.58. Among theseGenarchopsis piscicola showed the highest prevalence (40.38%) with mean intensity 2.95 in the host fishXenentodon cancila, while in other species the prevalence ranged between 26.23 and 34.62%. Present study authenticates the presence of several species of digenetic trematode parasites in the fish inhabiting freshwaters of J&K union territory.
Source: Journal of Parasitic Diseases - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research