A Qualitative And Quantitative Survey On The Helminth Parasites Of Fishes From The Aswan High Dam Lake In Egypt

Abstract

The present investigation is concerned with a helminthological survey of 19 species of fish collected along different seasons from the Aswan High Dam Lake in the southernmost part of Egypt. 615 out of 850 fish (72.4%) are positive for helminth infections. The positive hosts are infected with one or more helminthic groups. The incidence of infections arranged in their order frequency is 26.6% for trematodes, 24.8% for acanthocephala, 22.6% for nematodes, 11.7% for cestodes and 0.1% for aspidocotyleans. The incidence of infection in male and female fish is almost nearly equal except in Lutes niloticus where a certain species of nematodes is found in females but not in males. Digenetic trematodes, aspidocotyleans and acanthocephala are identified to the generic level and their incidence determined in various fish species. The incidence of single and simultaneous double infections with trematode genera are also determined to investigate the possible interactions between members of the parasitic fauna in their respective hosts. The incidence and intensity of fish infections with some trematodes and acanthocephala are studied throughout the range of their age to determine the effect of age on the characteristics of these infections.