Occurrence and prevalence of Philometra sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) infection in the ovary of Lutjanus russelli (Bleeker, 1849) in southeast coast of India

Abstract

Prevalence and intensity of an ovarian nematode parasite, Philometra sp. (Philometridae) and its effect on reproductive potential of marine fish has been investigated. Fish was collected randomly from south east coast of India. Live Philometra sp were represented solely by females and found only in the ovary of mature fish caught in the spawning period of Lutjanus russelli. Fishes were measured length and weight. The normal and infected ovaries were carefully removed from dissected fishes and examined the prevalence of nematode infection for each fish. Than the nematode were carefully removed and washed in a 0.6% saline solution and fixed in 70% ethanol. Representative nematodes were clean with glycerin and fixed in a solution of 95% glacial acid and 5% formalin for identification for light microscopy (LM) examination. Since the ovary were maligned during that period, particularly ovaries would provide an abundant food source in the form of blood. Maximum prevalence in Kalpakkam and Poompuhar, the prevalence was 78.1 % and 87.8 % in summer and post monsoon season respectively. Minimum was reached in Point Calimere coast in post monsoon, summer, pre monsoon and monsoon season is 16.3 %, 25.9%, 29.4 % and 38.6 % respectively. The overall prevalence was 69.5±26.872 % in post monsoon, 53.4±19.254 % in summer, 55.6±22.273 % in pre monsoon and 73.3±18.140 in monsoon seasons.