A Comprehensive Review on Helminth Parasites of Freshwater Fishes in Nanded District, Marathwada Region

Freshwater ecosystems support diverse fish communities that are vital for local nutrition, economy, and biodiversity. However, fish health is adversely affected by parasitic helminths -including cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes- which cause tissue damage, reduced growth, reproductive impairment, and increased mortality. In the Nanded district of Maharashtra, belonging to the Marathwada region and situated along the Godavari River basin, assessments of helminth parasite occurrences have revealed a wide helminth fauna infecting several freshwater fish species. Surveys conducted in this region and adjacent parts of Marathwada show that approximately half of examined fishes harbour helminth infections, with seasonal fluctuations influenced by environmental and host factors. This review km, /compiles available literature on the diversity, seasonal prevalence, host associations, and ecological determinants of helminth infections in freshwater fishes in the Nanded district, synthesising information to highlight patterns and research gaps. The study underscores the need for integrated ecological and molecular investigations to understand helminth biodiversity and its impacts on fish health and fisheries sustainability in the region.