Parasite Diversity in a Freshwater Ecosystem

oleh: Amana Shafiq, Farzana Abbas, Muhammad Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Bushra Nisar Khan, Ayesha Aihetasham, Iffat Amin, Hmidullah, Ramzi A. Mothana, Mohammed S. Alharbi, Imran Khan, Atif Ali Khan Khalil, Bashir Ahmad, Nimra Mubeen, Muneeba Akram

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-07-01

Deskripsi

Parasites are a significant component of biodiversity. They negatively affect fish appearance, growth, and reproduction. In this study, the prevalence of infection, diversity, and mean intensity of parasites were examined in 9 freshwater fish species (45 samples per fish species). Ecto-parasites were examined on the skin, gills, and fins with a hand lens. Wet mounts were prepared using mucosal scrapings from all the external and internal organs of the sampled fish. Microscopy, muscle compression, and the pepsin-HCL artificial digestion technique were also performed. In this study, 26 species of parasites were identified including three taxa belonging to 9 species of protozoan parasites, 11 treamtodes, and 6 monogenean parasites. The identified protozoan parasites were <i>Entamoeba histolitica</i>, <i>Chilodonella</i> sp., <i>Coccidia</i> sp., <i>Costia</i> sp., <i>Cryptobia</i> sp., <i>Ichthyopthiris-multifilis</i>, <i>Microsporidia</i>, <i>Piscinoodinium</i> sp., and <i>Ichthyobodo necator</i>. The identified trematode parasites were <i>Fasciola gigantica</i>, <i>Echinostoma revolutum</i>, <i>Fasciola hepatica</i>, <i>Haplorchis pumilio</i>, <i>Brachylaima cribbi</i>, <i>Echinostoma cinetorchis</i>, <i>Neascus</i> sp., <i>Deropegus</i> sp., <i>Trematode Soldier</i>, <i>Centrocestus formosanus</i>, and <i>Clinostomum marginatum.</i> The identified monogenean parasites were <i>Dactylogyrus limipopoensis</i>, <i>Dactylogyrus anchoratus</i>, <i>Dactylogyrus myersi</i>, <i>Dactylogyrus vastator</i>, <i>Gyrodactylus salaris,</i> and <i>Ancyrocephalus</i>. The diversity of parasites was maximum at the Okara site. The host’s organs that were targeted for parasitic infection included the intestine, liver, gills, fins, skin, and kidneys. The majority of the parasites were identified in <i>Labeo rohita</i> followed by <i>Hypophthalmichthys molitrix</i>, <i>Ctenopharyngodon idella</i>, <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>, <i>Cyprinus carpio</i>, and <i>Wallagu attu</i>. Two species appeared to be resistant species because none of the parasites were observed in <i>Notopterus notopterus</i> or <i>Sperata seenghala</i>. This study also concluded that the prevalence of parasites increased with increasing length, size, and age of fish.