Parasite Diversity in a Freshwater Ecosystem

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

doi:10.3390/microorganisms11081940

Parasite Diversity in a Freshwater Ecosystem

Microorganisms. 2023 Jul 29;11(8):1940. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11081940.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
² Institite of Zoology, University of Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan.
³ Department of Zoology, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Zoology, Islamia University Bahawalpur (Bahawalnagar Campus), Bahawalnagar 63100, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Biochemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-Daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea.
⁷ Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Allied Health Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
⁸ Department of Zoology, University of Malakand, Chakdara 18800, Pakistan.

Abstract

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 Entamoeba histolitica, Chilodonella sp., Coccidia sp., Costia sp., Cryptobia sp., Ichthyopthiris-multifilis, Microsporidia, Piscinoodinium sp., and Ichthyobodo necator. The identified trematode parasites were Fasciola gigantica, Echinostoma revolutum, Fasciola hepatica, Haplorchis pumilio, Brachylaima cribbi, Echinostoma cinetorchis, Neascus sp., Deropegus sp., Trematode Soldier, Centrocestus formosanus, and Clinostomum marginatum. The identified monogenean parasites were Dactylogyrus limipopoensis, Dactylogyrus anchoratus, Dactylogyrus myersi, Dactylogyrus vastator, Gyrodactylus salaris, and Ancyrocephalus. 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 Labeo rohita followed by Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Oreochromis niloticus, Cyprinus carpio, and Wallagu attu. Two species appeared to be resistant species because none of the parasites were observed in Notopterus notopterus or Sperata seenghala. This study also concluded that the prevalence of parasites increased with increasing length, size, and age of fish.

Keywords: diversity; mean density; monogeneans; prevalence of infection; protozoa; trematodes.

Grants and funding

The authors extend their appreciation to Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R119), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for funding this work.