Occurrence and Seasonal Variation of Intestinal Cestodes of Channa punctata from Muzaffarpur District, Bihar, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/jrasb.5.3.6Keywords:
Channa punctata, Intestinal cestodes, Lytocestus indicus, Prevalence, Seasonal variation, BiharAbstract
The present study investigated the occurrence and seasonal variation of intestinal cestodes in Channa punctata collected from Muzaffarpur District, Bihar, India, during January–December, 2025. A total of 240 fish specimens were examined, of which 98 were found infected, yielding an overall prevalence of 40.83%. Three cestode taxa, namely Lytocestus indicus, Senga spp., and Circumoncobothrium spp., were recorded, with L. indicus showing the highest prevalence (17.50%). Seasonal analysis revealed the highest infection rate during the monsoon season (56.67%) and the lowest during winter (26.67%). Female fish exhibited slightly higher prevalence (44.17%) than males (37.50%), while infection increased progressively with fish length, reaching a maximum prevalence of 50.00% in the 21–25 cm length group. Chi-square analysis indicated significant seasonal variation in infection prevalence (p < 0.05), highlighting the influence of environmental factors on parasite transmission. The findings provide valuable baseline information on the epidemiology of intestinal cestodes in C. punctata and emphasize the importance of regular parasitological monitoring for effective fish health management and sustainable fisheries development in the region.
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