TAXOMETRY AND ECOLOGY OF A NEW SPECIES OF DIPLOZOON NORDMAN, 1832 FROM THE GILLS OF SCHIZOTHORAX RICHARDSONI, INHABITANTS OF POONCH RIVER, JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE, INDIA

Abstract

The aim of the study was to conduct parasitological investigations on gills of Schizothorax richardsoni, to observe parasitic load with reference to macroenvironmental (season, sex and size) factors. S. richardsoni (n=240) were collected from Poonch  river, Jammu and Kashmir, India from November 2009 to October 2011(10 animals per month)  to detect infectivity of parasite fauna.  More than 20% of Schizothorax richardsoni were infected with a new species of  monogenean trematode parasite, Diplozoon poochensis sp. nov. on their gills characterized by extensively developed vitellaria masking intestine, large band shaped and folded ovary, short uterus, single egg large, elongated, thick shelled having coiled polar filament and opisthaptor bearing four pairs of transversely oval clamps, widest in hind body region. No diporpa larvae were collected. Macroenvironmental studies indicated that the prevalence of the parasite was higher in the first year  as compared to the second  and in both years, infected females outnumbered the males. The parasite showed no preference for attachment site. Quantitative results indicated that prevalence was high in summer and spring whereas mean intensity was highest during autumn. Fish 20-30 cms in length were most heavily infected (60.6%) having highest Mean Intensity (1.97). Ecological studies indicated that the prevalence of the parasite is affected by its macroenvironment (season, sex and size). This is the first record of Diplozoon from Schizothorax richardsoni of Poonch river, Jammu province, India.