Diversity and incidence of cestode parasites in freshwater fishes of the Krishna River basin, western Maharashtra

Fishes play a crucial role in meeting the growing protein demands of the rapidly increasing global population, making them a vital source of nutrition and an economically significant resource. However, the presence of parasites in fish can negatively impact their production and quality, thereby affecting the aquaculture industry. This study aimed to examine the incidence of cestode parasites in fish species from the Krishna River Basin, Western Maharashtra. Fish were collected from various sites in the Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur Districts. The species examined included Mastacembelus armatus, Labeo rohita, Clarias batrachus, Channa punctatus, and Wallago attu. A total of 268 fishes were dissected and examined for parasites, with 102 of them were found to be infected. In total, 134 cestode parasites were collected and preserved in 4% formalin for further study. The highest incidence of infection was observed during the summer, followed by winter, with the lowest occurrence noted in the rainy season.