Abstract:

A study on the metazoan parasites of Channa gachua (Ham.) from Mansar Lake, Jammu was conducted and out of 240 fish hosts examined, 171 were found infected with metazoan parasites. The parasite fauna was recorded comprised of both adult and larval forms. A total of 6 adult species, which includes Digenean Trematoda:  Phyllodistomum mansari, Allocreadium  A. gachuai n. sp, Genarchopsis G. piscicola; Cestoda: Ancistrocephalus sp; Nematoda: Camallanus jammuensis n. sp., Pseudoproleptus macrognathus, and 3 larval forms; Trematoda: Clinostomum giganticum, Euclinostomum reticultum, Nematoda: Camallanus were recorded. The prevalence and mean intensity of metazoan parasites were higher in the month of summer (April to July) and falling to low during winter (December to February). Host size had a positive correlation with the prevalence and dominance of the parasites. Sex of the host had no effect on the seasonal distribution of the parasites. Allocreadium A. gachuai was the most dominant parasite community.