A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE HELMINTH PARASITES COMMUNITIES OF SOME CATFISHES

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out seasonally from October 2008 to September 2010, to study the impact of helminth parasites of catfishes of Lucknow. The fish fauna viz., Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Wallago attu, Mystus vittatus and Rita rita were carried trematode, cestode, nematode and acanthocephalan parasites communities singly or mixed. The collected fish species include two monogenean species (Gyrodactylus and Dactylogyrus), seven digenean species (Clinistomum, Euclinostomum, Gastrohtylax, Paramphistomum, Opisthorchis, Aspidogaster and Fasciola), one cestode species (Teania), one nematode species (Trichinella) and one acanthocephalan species (Pallisentis). The data showed significant highest parasitic communities during the summer season, moderate in monsoon and lowest in winter season. The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 58.71 % in catfishes. Among helminth parasites communities, trematode parasites were found to be maximum in number than the rest three parasitic group i.e. cestode, nematode and acanthocephalan parasites. No clear pattern of association between helminth species was detected, showing an unstructured helminth community in which the occurrence of any species was not restricted or favored by the occurrence of any other species. The lack of association might be different life-cycles of parasites. With respect to helminth infection; maximum infection was recorded in case of Heteropneustes fossilis and minimum infection intensity was detected in Rita rita as compared with other catfishes. The aim of investigation based only to provide the information about fishes harbor the helminth parasites seasonally and avoid these fishes to consume in particular season.