Seasonal Variation in the Infestation of Helminth Parasites in Indian Major Carps, Darbhanga, India

The current investigation was undertaken to study of the seasonal variations in the intensity of helminth parasites in 160 specimens of Indian major carps collected from different ponds of Darbhanga district, Bihar, India. The host fish were found to parasitize there helminth endoparasites such as Bothriocephalus, cestode in intestine, Camallunus nematode in stomach, Dactylogyrus flukes in gills and Gyrodactylus flukes in skin. These parasites revealed seasonal fluctuation in their prevalence percentage, mean intensity and abundance. The highest prevalence and abundance was recorded for Dactylogyrus (70.21 and 18.33) in winter months followed by summer (42.51 and 10.66), post monsoon (10.51 and 5.66) and in monsoon months (6.65 and 3.33). Similarly the highest prevalence and abundance was recorded for Gyrodactylus in winter (7.91 and 2.05) but lowest in monsoon (2.01 and 0.66). The winter month did not show infection of any endoparasites Camalluns and Bothriocephalus. The observed seasonal variations have been attributed to temperature, feeding habit and lifecycle patterns of the parasites. The present investigation concludes that winter and summer seasons as the most susceptible seasons to parasitic attacks in Indian major carps.