Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Parasitic Diseases: Official Organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology logoLink to Journal of Parasitic Diseases: Official Organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
. 2013 Apr 23;39(2):130–133. doi: 10.1007/s12639-013-0296-3

Prevalence of ectoparasites in carp fry and fingerlings of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh

M Golam Mortuza 1,2,✉, Fahad A Al-Misned 1
PMCID: PMC4456543  PMID: 26063985

Abstract

The Study has been carried out to find out the prevalence of ectoparasites of carp fry and fingerlings during June 2010 to May 2011 from Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. Four groups of ectoparasites viz. myxozoan, ciliophoran, monogenean and crustacean were recorded from 560 species of endemic and exotic carps collected from Rajshahi District, Bangladesh. The highest ectoparasitic prevalence (37.5 %) has been recorded for ciliophoran group in winter and the lowest prevalence in crustacean (5 %) in summer. However, no crustacean was recorded in Rainy season (June–September). The seasonal highest ectoparasitic prevalence (25 %) was recorded during the winter season (October to January) while the lowest prevalence (11 %) in rainy season (June–September). The study shows that the carp fry and fingerlings are most susceptible to ectoparasites in winter.

Keywords: Ectoparasites, Infestation, Prevalence, Carp, Fry and fingerlings

Introduction

The ectoparasites of fish constitute one of the most important problem associates with pond fish culture. Parasites investigation in farms and ponds depends on many factors which are ideal for the propagation and development of parasitic population. In closing habitat of the fishes in the pond which leads to transporting the parasites especially those which have a direct life cycle from one fish to another by contact (Dogiel 1961). Many fishes disasters in fish farms were caused by different considerable as ectoparasites (protozoa, monogenetic trematoda and crustacea), which have direct life cycle and facilitate translocation from host to host making huge damages to fish wealth (Al-Marjan and Abdullah 2009).

The major carp farming played an important and dominating role in freshwater aquaculture of Bangladesh. The water bodies of Rajshahi district, especially ponds and ditches are mainly used for carp culture and supported potential freshwater fish production of Bangladesh. The most important prerequisite of fish production is the available of healthy fish fry and fingerlings of carps. It is evidence from available literature that parasites diseases caused significance damage in nursery system of carp mostly affecting the fry and fingerlings (Gopalkrisnan 1961). High stocking density is being maintained during carp fry nursery operations, and this density induces bio-ecological stress to fry (Passion 1984) and make the fry more susceptible to the parasitic infection (Sneisko 1974; Alam et al. 2012; Mofasshalin et al. 2012). The present study deals with ectoparasites prevalence of carp fry and fingerlings and in relation to water quality parameters.

Materials and methods

The fry and fingerlings of eight endemic and exotic carps viz., Rui (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla), Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), Bata (Labeo bata), Grass carp (Ctenopharyoungodon idella), Sorpanti (Puntius gonionotus), Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Silver carp (Hypophthalmicthyes molitrix) were collected from Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. A total of 560 fingerlings were studies for ectoparasitic infection. In order to observed seasonal variation, the infected fishes were collected monthly from different fish market and nursing ponds. The fishes were brought to lab and freshly examined by taking smear from skin, fins and gills. Gills were also removed, and placed in petri dish with distal water then microscopically examined. All smears were examined under a light compound microscope at 40–100× magnification (LABOMED, model Lx400, USA). Most of protozoan were identified in a direct way without any technique, by preparation of smear, and important measurement were taken for each protozoan. The Indian ink method of Lom and Vavra (1963) used to identify the myxozoan spore and for permanent slides, the air-dried smears were stained with Giemsa. Silver-impregnation method after Klein (1958) was used for ciliophoran parasites. For permanent slides for monogenetic trematodes, few drops of glycerin jelly were applied (Kritsky et al. 2004). The Crustaceans were killed and fixed with 5 % formalin for 1 h and then transferred into 80 % alcohol. Specimen was cleared with 85 % lactic acid and stained by a drop of neutral red then permanent slides prepared by using jelly glycerin (Kim 2004). Monogenean parasites were identified by following the descriptions and figures of Yamaguti (1963). Protozoan parasites were identified according to the description of Lom (1960), Lucky (1971), Kabata (1985), Hoffman (1998).

The year was divided into three main season Rainy (June–September), winter (October–January) and summer (February–May). The prevalence was calculated as number of infected fish divided by number of observed fish multiplied by hundred. The water quality parameters viz., water temperature, dissolves oxygen (DO), PH and total hardness were measured with the help of kit box (HACH Model HA-71A, USA) and digital water quality checker (YSI Model 63, USA).

Results and discussion

The prevalence of ectoparasites of carp fry and fingerlings in different seasons have been presented in the Table 1. Among the different groups of ectoparasites, ciliophoran has shown highest prevalence (29.66 %) throughout the year followed by myxozoan (18.8 %), monogenean (12 %) and crustacean (6.66 %). In winter (October–January), the prevalence of ectoparasites reached at 25 % and gradually decreased in summer (14 %) and Rainy (11 %). This indicates that the ectoparasitic infection changed with the change of season.

Table 1.

Prevalence of ectoparasite in carp fry and fingerlings in different season of the year

Months Myxozoans Prevalence (%) Ciliophorans Prevalence (%) Monogeneans Prevalence (%) Crustacean Prevalence (%)
June–September Myxobolus sp. 20 Trichodina sp. 45 Dactylogyrus sp. 10 Argulus sp. 0
Thelohanellus sp. 8 Ichthyophthirius sp. 5 Gyrodactylus sp. 0 Ergasilus sp. 0
October–January Myxobolus sp. 35 Trichodina sp. 55 Dactylogyrus sp. 40 Argulus sp. 5
Thelohanellus sp. 15 Ichthyophthirius sp. 20 Gyrodactylus sp. 5 Ergasilus sp. 25
February–May Myxobolus sp. 25 Trichodina sp. 35 Dactylogyrus sp. 15 Argulus sp. 2
Thelohanellus sp. 10 Ichthyophthirius sp. 15 Gyrodactylus sp. 2 Ergasilus sp. 8
Total average Myxozoans 18.3 Ciliophorans 29.66 Monogeneans 12 Crustacean 6.66
Open in a new tab

The average prevalence of each group of ectoparasites has been listed in the Table 2. All groups of ectoparasites have also been shown highest prevalence in winter followed by summer and rainy season (Table 2). The seasonal prevalence data indicate that ectoparasitic infection is high during the winter (October–January) which leads to the conclusion that biological factors of host as well as water quality are responsible for infection. Crustacean ectoparasites are present in the winter season and few are recorded in the summer and totally absent in the Rainy season. Among the monogenean, Gyrodactylus is not found in rainy season (June–September) (Table 1).

Table 2.

Seasonal fluctuation of water quality parameters in nursery pond

Seasons Water temperature (°C) DO (ppm) PH Hardness (ppm)
Rainy (June–September) 31.02 6.07 6.5 130.75
Winter (October–January) 20.56 7.83 7.6 115.50
Summer (February–May) 26.31 7.26 8.1 123.5
Open in a new tab

Since the fry and fingerlings are delicate, so they are more susceptible to infection. The water temperature, DO, PH and hardness are four major water quality parameters that related to diseases infection as they fluctuate more rapidly. The data of these four parameters with their mean ± SD have been shown in the Table 3. The ectoparasitic prevalence has shown temperature sensitivity. Ectoparasitic prevalence increases when water temperature and hardness is the decreased (Fig. 1a, d) and optimum levels of dissolved oxygen and neutral PH have a positive effect on the ectoparasitic prevalence (Fig. 1b, c).

Table 3.

Seasonal ectoparasitic prevalence (%) of carp fingerlings

Parasitic group Rainy Winter Summer
(June–September) (October–February) (March–May)
Myxozoans 14 25 17.5
Ciliophorans 25 37.5 25
Monogeneans 5 22.5 8.5
Crustaceans 0 15 5
Average of total parasitic prevalence 11 25 14
Open in a new tab

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Open in a new tab

Correlation of parasitic prevalence in three main season with different water quality parameters: a water temperature, b dissolve oxygen, c PH, and d hardness

Fish fry-fingerlings become more susceptible to pathogen because of their immature immune system (Anderson 1974), which support the present findings. The shallow and stagnant water favours the multiplication of ciliates like Trichodina (Kabata 1985). Trichodina is the most prevalent ectoparasites followed by Dactyogyrus (Lumanlan et al. 1992; Hossain et al. 2008; Banerjee and Bandyopadhyay 2010). These two parasites are the most common and caused mass in carp culture in Malaysia and Sri Lanka reported by Shariff and Vijiarungam (1986) and Subashinghe (1992) respectively.

During the winter season, pond water level becomes decreased and water quality deteriorates. The prevalence of ectoparasites in carp fry and fingerling varied with the season, being higher during winter. Winter had already been identified as a period of high susceptibility of fish to parasites (Rahman et al. 2007; Forhaduzzaman et al. 2010; Mofasshalin et al. 2012). Since the fingerlings require more O2 and due to lack of O2 they become more prone to infection. High stocking density of fingerlings is another reason for ectoparasitic diseases outbreak (Hossain et al. 2008). High stock density increases the possibility of ectoparasitic contamination from one fish to another. Thus it could be concluded that the water quality has a great impact on the abundance of pathogens and their ability to survive on host. So the stocking density and water quality should be maintained to avoid parasitic infestation in nursery pond.

References

  1. Alam MM, Khan MA, Hussain MA, Moumita D, Mazlan AG, Simon KD. Intensity of parasitic infestation in silver carp. Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. J Zhejiang Univ-Sci B. 2012;13(12):1024–1028. doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1200121. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Al-Marjan KSN, Abdullah SMA. Some ectoparasites of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Ainkawa fish hatchery, Erbil province. J Duhok Univ. 2009;12(1):102–107. [Google Scholar]
  3. Anderson DP. Fish immunology. In: Sneiszko SF, Axelrod HR, editors. Diseases of fishes. New Jersey: F. H. Publication; 1974. [Google Scholar]
  4. Banerjee S, Bandyopadhyay PK. Observation on prevalence of ectoparasites in carp fingerlings in two districts of West Bengal. J Parasit Dis. 2010;34:44–47. doi: 10.1007/s12639-010-0003-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dogiel VA. Ecology of the parasites of fresh water fish in parasitology of fishes. London: Oliver and Bayd; 1961. pp. 1–47. [Google Scholar]
  6. Farhaduzzaman AM, Alam MM, Hossain M, Hussain MA, Rahman MH. Prevalence of parasites in the Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Univ J Zool Rajshahi Univ. 2010;28:65–68. doi: 10.3329/ujzru.v28i0.5290. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  7. GopalKrisnan V. Observation on a new epidemical eye disease affecting the Indian Carp Catla catla (Hamilton-Buchanan) Indian J Fish. 1961;8:222–232. [Google Scholar]
  8. Hoffman GL. Parasites of North American freshwater fishes. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates; 1998. [Google Scholar]
  9. Hossain MD, Hossain MK, Rahman MH, Akter A, Khanom DA. Prevalenc of ectoparasites of carp fingerlings at Santaher, Bogra. Univ J Zool Rajshahi Univ. 2008;27:17–19. [Google Scholar]
  10. Kabata Z. Paites and diseases of fish cultured in the tropics. London: Taylor and Francis; 1985. [Google Scholar]
  11. Kim IH. Copepodid stages of Ergasilus hyponesi Yamaguti, (Copepoda, Poecilostomatoida, Ergasilidae) from a brackish lake in Korea. Korean J Biol Sci. 2004;8:1–2. doi: 10.1080/12265071.2004.9647727. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  12. Klein BM. The dry silver method and its proper use. J Protozool. 1958;5:99–103. doi: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1958.tb02535.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kritsky DC, Panndey KC, Agrawal N, Abdullah SMA. Monogenoids from the gills of spiny eels (Teleostei: Mastacembelidae) in India and Iraq, proposal of Mastacembelocleidus gen. n., and status of the Indian species of Actinocleidus, Urocleidus and Haplocleidus (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) Folia Parasitol. 2004;51:291–298. doi: 10.14411/fp.2004.036. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lom J (1960) “Trichodina reticulata Hirschmann and Partsch 1955 from Crucian carp, and T. domerguei f. latispina Dogel 1940 from Diaptomus “ Protozoological Laboratory of the Czechoslovak academy of science, Prague. Acta Societatis Zologicke. Bohemoslovenicae Svazek xxiv-Cislo 3-1960-Str. p 246–257
  15. Lom J, Vávra J. Mucous envelopes of spores of the subphylum Cnidospora (Doflein, 1901) Vestn Cesk Spol Zool. 1963;27:4–6. [Google Scholar]
  16. Lucky Z. Methods for the diagnosis of fish diseases. New Delhi: Amerind; 1971. [Google Scholar]
  17. Lumanlan SC, Albaladejo JD, Bondad-Reartaso MG, Arthur JR. Fresh-water fishes imported into the Philippines. In: Shariff M, Subashinghe RP, Arthur JR, editors. Diseases in Asian aquaculture I. Philippines: Asian Fisheries Society; 1992. [Google Scholar]
  18. Mofasshalin MS, Bashar MA, Alam MM, Alam GM, Moumita D, Mazlan AG, Simon KD (2012) Parasites of three Indian minor carps of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Asian J Anim Vet Adv 7(7):613–620
  19. Passion DRM. Biochemical indicator in fish. In: Carins VW, Hodson VP, Nriagu JO, editors. An overview in contaminants effects in fisheries. USA: Jhon Willy; 1984. [Google Scholar]
  20. Rahman MR, Akter MA, Hossain MD. Parasitic diseases of exotic carp in Bangladesh. J Agric Rural Dev. 2007;5(1&2):127–134. [Google Scholar]
  21. Sharif M, Vijiarungam AF (1986) Occurrence of parasites at fish breeding station in peninsular Malaysia and their control. Proc Intercont Dev Managem Trop Living Aquat. Resources, Serdang, Malaysia. 2–5 August 1983. p 68–73
  22. Sneiszko SF. The effect of environmental stress on out break of infectious diseases of fishes. J Fish Biol. 1974;6:197–208. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1974.tb04537.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  23. Subashinghe RP. Hatchery disease of fresh water fishes in Sri Lanka. In: Sharif M, Subashinghe RP, Arthur JR, editors. Diseases in Asian aquaculture I. Philippines: Asian Fisheries Society; 1992. [Google Scholar]
  24. Yamaguti S. Systema Helminthum vol. Acanthocephala of vertebrates. New York: Interscience; 1963. [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Parasitic Diseases: Official Organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology are provided here courtesy of Springer

RESOURCES