Parasitic Infection with <i>Cirrhina mrigala</i> (Hamilton) Collected from Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Abstract

The parasitic infection was studied on Cirrhina mrigala, an indigenous major carp in different water bodies of Rajshahi district during April 2006 to January 2007. A total of 83 specimens of C. mrigala were examined during the study period of which 74 fishes were observed to be infected by numerous protozoan and metazoan parasites. A total number of 3063 parasites were recorded from the infected fishes. Ten different parasitic genera, Trichodina, Myxobolus, Chilodonella, Ichthyophthirius, Dactylogyrus, Gyrodactylus, Fellodistomum, Eucreadium, Camallanus and Argulus were identified from the hosts sampled. Among them seven were cetoparasites and three were endoparasites. Parasites were collected from different body parts of the fishes. Most of the parasites were collected from external body surfaces and gills. Prevalence, intensity and abundance of the infection with parasites were varied to different length groups of the hosts and months of the year. In case of length, the medium sized fishes were more infected than the maximum sized and their prevalence, intensity and abundance were highest. Infection rate was lowest in larger size fish group. In seasonal variation, the maximum infection was observed in pre-winter and the lowest number was recorded in rainy season.

Key words: Parasitic infection, Cirrhina mrigala, Prevalence, Intensity, Abundance.  

DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i2.968

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(2), 243-250, 2008