Effect of Dissolved Oxygen on Infectivity Pattern of Cestodes Lytocestus haryanii in Fish Clarias batrachus L. of River Yamuna, Yamuna Nagar (Haryana), India

Background: The parasitic helminthes have long been a significant concern to human health and sustainability of various ecosystems including aquaculture. The parasitic infections can disrupt aquaculture quality, biodiversity richness, and leading to ecological imbalances as well. Thus, parasitism is not only crucial for human health but also for the management of habitat community, sustainable development and ecosystem conservation. The hydrological attributes can influence predominantly the infectivity pattern of parasitic helminthes in terms of species richness, diversity, prevalence, geographic distribution, and transmission dynamics in any group of aquatic hosts. Aim: The present research work was carried out to estimate the concentration of dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and its effect on the infectivity pattern and bioecology of caryophyllids Lytocestus haryanii in catfish Clarias batrachus L. of river Yamuna, Yamuna Nagar (Haryana), India. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out during July 2018 to June 2020. The concentration of Dissolved Oxygen (DO, mg/L) in the collected water sample was estimated using modified Winkler’s method. There were various modern numerical tools employed for assessment and validation of effect of DO (mg/L) on infectivity patterns of L. haryanii. Results: The peak dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/L) was estimated (modified Winkler’s method) during the month of April and August positively corroborated to the establishment, richness and burden of caryophyllids in fish hosts. However, augmented Dissolved Oxygen (DO, mg/L) in river water reflected negative correlation with infection prevalence, distribution and transmission dynamics of cestodes among host population. Conclusion: The biostatistical substantiation by regression trends, ANOVA and f-test revealed concentration of Dissolved Oxygen (DO, mg/L) as a principal component of hydrological attributes that influence the infectivity pattern of cayophyllids significantly in fish hosts. Therefore authors suppose to propose awareness about parasitic helminthes which may be helpful in management of healthy and sustainable aquaculture and riverine ichthyodiversity.