GILL COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND SPATIAL ALLOCATION OF CICHLIDOGYRID MONOGENEAN PARASITES ON THE GILLS OF Oreochromis niloticus (LINNÉ, 1758) OF YSR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA | UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Background and Goals: Monogeneans are well-known parasites with a varied life history that defend themselves from strong water currents and pesticides in water by occupying hydrodynamically hidden places within the gill arches. A parasitic survey was carried out to highlight the spatial distribution of gill monogeneans from Oreochromis niloticus (Linné, 1785) in various locations throughout the YSR District, Andhra Pradesh.
Materials and Methods: To screen the fishes' gills for monogenean infection, conventional parasitological procedures were performed, and standard statistical software (IBM SPSS 21.0 version) was used to conduct statistical tests.
The gills of 133 fishes yielded a total of 4028 monogeneans of the genera Cichlidogyrus and Scutogyrus, with a prevalence of 75.9%, mean intensity of 39.8, and mean abundance of 30.2 correspondingly. All three monogenean species, Cichlidogyrus sclerosus, Cichlidogyrus tilapiae, and Scutogyrus longicornis, were widespread (prevalence >50%) and had an aggregated distribution pattern (16.4, 15.3 and 12.3). The core species was C. sclerosus, with the others being secondary. There was a substantial link between the condition factor and parasite abundance. Parasitization was highest in the winter (47%) and lowest in the summer (22 percent ).
Conclusion: Parasite location analyses, predilection for sides of the fish host, and the effect of host size and sex on parasitization were investigated. Studies of the gill community structure and spatial allocation of these parasites aid aquaculturists in optimal fish health management and prevent economic losses. Please see the link :- http://mbimph.com/index.php/UPJOZ/article/view/1784