Prevalence of Ciliate Infection in Ornamental Fish of India

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to understand the relationship between occurrence of ciliate parasite infection, infecting Xiphophorus hellerii with the water temperature fluctuations in different seasons of the year. The communication deals with prevalence of infection of three ciliate ectoparasites under the genus Trichodina, Tripartiella and Trichodinella belonging to the family trichodinidae, infecting this ornamental fish, collected from different fish farms of Nadia and North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal during March 2017 to February 2019. The parasites belonging to the family trichodinidae commonly known as trichodinid ciliates. All trichodinids are bell-shaped ciliate ectoparasites and characterized by well developed denticles, adhesive disc and consist unique adoral ciliary spiral, causing respiratory distress to fish. During the study 450 fishes have been examined from Nadia (22.95°N, 88.57°E; 22.92°N, 88.55°E) and North 24 Parganas (22.89°N, 88.42°E) district of West Bengal and the highest ectoparasitic infection was found during post-monsoon season (November to February).The ciliates have been identified following Universally accepted staining method. This study also highlights the correlation of prevalence of parasitic infestation with the mean intensity, abundance and water temperature fluctuations during premonsoon, monsoon and postmonsoon season.