Prevalence of Myxozoan Parasites (Myxozoa:Myxosporea) in Different Fresh Water Fishes Collected from River Damodar in Bankura District, West Bengal

Abstract

The present communication records the prevalence of myxozoan (Myxozoa : Myxosporea : Bivalvulida) parasites of the genera Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 and Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 in different food fishes of West Bengal, India. The host fishes were collected from river Damodar in the district of Bankura, West Bengal. There are 10 different genera of host fishes which belong to as many as 8 families of Bony fishes, viz., Cobitidae, Ambassidae, Channidae, Gobiidae, Bagridae, Mastacembelidae, Cyprinidae, Belonidae. The myxoaoans have been found infecting the fins, operculum, gills as well as the internal organs like intestine and kidney too. The rate of infections was comparatively higher in the winter months. Monthly prevalence of the myxozoan infections along with the genera and families of host fishes are summarised in this communication.