UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

In the present study, histopathological damage in the gut of Clarias magur caused by the parasite Lytocestus indicus has been investigated. This finding reveals that the infection induces pathological changes in the host’s gut wall. Histopathological examination of both infected and non-infected gut of Clarias magur revealed that the non-infected tissues exhibited intact villi and epithelial layers. In contrast, the infected tissues showed extensive damage, including destruction of the villi and epithelium. The parasite was noticed to remain attached to the wall of the stomach. The cestode was found to have a dorsoventrally flattened, elongated body with a digitiform scolex. The intestinal lumen and villi of the host fish were observed to be anchored by the parasite, leading to blockage of the intestinal passage and rupture of the mucosal and submucosal layers. Vacuolation within the gastrointestinal layers was also noted. Seasonal fluctuations were recorded (premonsoon, monsoon, and postmonsoon) during this investigation. The findings revealed seasonal variations in prevalence, mean intensity, and relative abundance, with higher values observed during the summer. This is the first report documenting the intestinal pathology in the fish Clarias magur caused by the cestode parasite Lytocestus indicus from North Bengal, West Bengal, India.