Trematode infection in Coldwater fishes of Ladakh (Leh), J&K, India
Shabir Ahmad Dar1, Fayaz Ahmad, J. A. Dar, M. R. Mir and J. A. Kuchai
Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar-190006 (India)
ABSTRACT
A parasitological investigation on the trematode parasites of fishes of Ladakh (Leh) was carried out from November 2007 to April 2009 (18 months). A total of 210 fishes belonging to three species viz., Cyprinus carpio communis, Schizothorax progastrus and S. niger were collected and examined from different collection sites of Ladakh. A total of 3 trematode species viz., Diplozoon kashmirensis, D. aegyptensis and Allocreadium schizothoracis belonging to two genera were reported. It was found that out of 210 hosts examined, 58 were found infected with 81 parasites recovered in total, with an overall prevalence, mean intensity and abundance of 27.61, 1.39 and 0.38 respectively. Distribution of helminth infection and its relation with sex and size of host was analysed. The helminth infection showed no significant relationship with sex of hosts however it showed mostly significant relation to size of host.