Prevalence of Crustacean Parasite (Argulus SP.) in Fishes from Cultured Environment of Private Fish Farm at Gadhawa, Deukhuri ,Dang

Abstract

This study was carried out at the private fish farm at Gangaparaspur which lies in Gadhawa Rural Municipality Ward number 5, Deukhuri-Dang, Rapti zone, Lumbini Province, Nepal in April 2022 (Chaitra 2078). The objective of the study was the identification of crustacean parasite (Argulus sp) in fishes of private fish farm at Gadhawa, Deukhuri, Dang. Altogether 1018 fish samples of four different fish species namely, Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Rohu (Labeo rohita), Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) were examined. These host fish were divided into three groups according to length wise, smaller sized (15- 25 cm), medium sized (2635 cm) and large sized (36-45 cm) and weight wise, small weight fish (201- 400 gm), medium sized (401- 600 gm) and large sized fish (601-800 gm). During the study time the total Argulus parasites recorded were 24 in 17 host fishes. Prevalence, mean intensity and abundance was analysed. Among the four different fish species, H. molitrix was highly prevalent species (3.2374 %) by Argulus parasite and least prevalence was recorded in C. mrigala (0.4347 %). The Argulus were collected from various body parts of fish, from skin, pectoral fin, chest, caudal fin and gill cover and pectoral fin region was found highly infested by Argulus and least in gill cover. Prevalence (0.0145 %), intensity (0.0189) and abundance (0.0182) of parasites were found to be highest in medium sized fish (weight wise). The female H. molitrix recorded the highest prevalence (3.0303 %), mean intensity (1.6667) and abundance (0.0505) of the Argulus parasite.