Prevalence and incidence of helminth infection in some freshwater fishes of Sukhnag stream in Kashmir

Abstract

Helminth infection, with high mortality rate, causes significant damage to fish industry worldwide In Kashmir, about 31 species of helminths are known to affect local fish population. In this study, we investigated seasonal variation of helminth parasites in snow trout (Schizothorax plagiostomus Heckel,1838) and scale carp (Cyprinus carpio communis Linnaeus, 1758) collected from Sukhnag stream for a period of two years (February 2017 to January 2019). Helminths Adenoscolex oreini (cestode), Diplozoon kashmirensis (trematode), and Pomphorhynchus kashmirensis (acanthocephalan) were recovered from S. plagiostomus while Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (cestode) and P. kashmirensis have been recovered from C. carpio communis. Prevalence and mean intensity of helminth infection was highest in S. plagiostomus (25.26% and 13.79) and lowest in C. carpio communis (10.82% and 8.47), respectively. Prevalence of helminths was at its peak in summer (June/July) and lowest in winter (December/January) in both native (S. plagiostomus) and exotic (C. carpio communis) fish species. This study revealed significant seasonal and monthwise variation in parasitic load of fishes which could be due to the difference in temperature, feeding habits of fish, fish species, immunity levels and other abiotic conditions of the water body.