Comparative Surveillance of Parasitic Infestation in Channa punctatus (Osteichthys: Channidae) Collected from Open and Closed Water in Sylhet, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study deals with the investigation of parasitic infection in Channa punctatus collected from open and closed water in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Skins, gills and intestine of the host were observed for finding parasites. In total 253 parasites were identified under 26 species from 40 experimental fish. 12 species of ectoparasites and 13 species of endoparasites were recorded with 1 more species of both ecto and endo parasitic activities in Channa punctatus. Different types of parasites such as protozoa, platyhelminth, nematoda, acanthocephala, arthropoda, gastrotricha and rotifer were found from experimental fish. The overall incidence of infection in Channa punctatus was higher (60.00%) of protozoan parasites. The highest incidence of infection of protozoan parasites was recorded as 60.00% in open water samples. On the other hand, the highest incidence of infection in closed water was recorded as 75% of platyhelminth parasites. Furthermore, the intensity of infection by protozoan species was recorded in open and closed water fish as 2.92 and 4.83 respectively while the intensity of infection by platyhelminthes species found was 1.00 and 1.87 in open and closed water respectively. Finally, two new species (Rotifer sp. and Chaetonotus sp.) were assumed to be new parasites in Channa punctatus.