title: Distribution of Helminth Parasites in Intestines and Their Seasonal Rate of Infestation in Three Freshwater Fishes of Kashmir.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to determine the incidence of helminth parasites in fishes with special reference to water quality parameters in Dal Lake and River Jhelum and correlate the observations. Water, fish, and parasite samples were collected during different seasons from various sites and processed. Three fish species, namely,Schizothorax nigerHeckel 1838,Schizothorax esocinusHeckel 1838, andSchizothorax curvifronsHeckel 1838, were recovered from these water bodies. The physicochemical parameters temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and free carbon dioxide showed variation vis-à-vis the season and location of the stations in water bodies. Acanthocephalan parasitePomphorhynchus kashmirensisKaw 1941 (27.47%) and two intestinal cestodesBothriocephalus acheilognathiYamaguti 1934 (30.63%) andAdenoscolex oreiniFotedar 1958 (32.43%) were recovered from all the three species ofSchizothorax. All the three parasites showed higher prevalence during summer and the least prevalence during winter. Parasitic infections were prevalent more in male fishes compared to females. The presence of the parasites had reduced the condition coefficient of the infected fishes in both water bodies. The study also showed that some of the physicochemical features showed a significant positive correlation with the prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Rangil, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 19006, India.
authors.forename: Asifa
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2424-1442
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Rangil, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 19006, India.
authors.forename: Masood-Ul Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Balkhi
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shuhama, Jammu and Kashmir 19006, India.
authors.forename: Rafia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maqbool
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shuhama, Jammu and Kashmir 19006, India.
authors.forename: Mohammed Maqbool
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Darzi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Rangil, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 19006, India.
authors.forename: Feroz Ahmad
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Rangil, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 19006, India.
authors.forename: Farooz Ahmad
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Rangil, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 19006, India.
authors.forename: Bilal Ahmad
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bhat