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Study of cestode infection in relation to the sex of the host fish, Mastacembelus armatus

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Reetesh Kumar Khare at Raghuveer singh Govt. P.G. College, Lalitpur U.P. India
Reetesh Kumar Khare
  • Raghuveer singh Govt. P.G. College, Lalitpur U.P. India
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The present communication deals with the study of cestode infection in a popular freshwater fish, Mastacembelus armatus in relation to the male and female sex of the host. In this study the author calculated the maximum prevalence, mean intensity and relative density in the males of host fish.
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https://doi.org/10.33451/florafauna.v27i2 pp308-310
FLORA AND FAUNA ISSN 2456 - 9364 (Online)
2021 Vol. 27 No. 2 PP 308-310 ISSN 0971 - 6920 (Print)
Study of cestode infection in relation to the sex of the host fish, Mastacembelus armatus
Reetesh Kumar Khare
Department of Zoology,
Raghuveer Singh Govt. Degree College,
LALITPUR 284403 (U.P.) India
E-mail : rkkbwr@gmail.com
Received : 11.10.2021; Accepted : 08.11.2021
ABSTRACT
The present communication deals with the study of cestode infection in a popular freshwater fish, Mastacembelus
armatus in relation to the male and female sex of the host. In this study the author calculated the maximum prevalence, mean
intensity and relative density in the males of host fish.
Figure : 01 References : 05 Table : 01
KEY WORDS : Betawa, Cestode infection, Mastacembelus armatus, Mean intensity, Prevalence, Relative density,
Sex of the host
Introduction
Cestodes are mainly endoparasites of different
parts of alimentary canal of their hosts Viz. stomach,
upper intestine, middle intestine and lower intestine. The
adult or larval forms or both may be pathogenic to their
hosts. With a view to know the nature of cestodes
infection, regular studies for two successive years were
undertaken to record the nature of parasitism in a fresh
water fish, Mastacembelus armatus of Bundelkhand
region of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Material and Method
Two hundred and forty fishes were examined to
study the nature of cestode infection in the male and
female host fish. The study was carried out for two
successive years. In the course of examination 134 male
and 106 female fishes were dissected. In each month
ten fishes were sacrificed and the prevalence, mean
intensity and relative density of cestode infection have
been worked out, in relation to sex of the selected host.
The host fishes were obtained from different parts
of river Betawa, District Jhansi (U.P.) India by the help of
local fish catchers. Live fishes were anesthetized with
the help of chloroform. The host fishes were dissected
quickly to find out their sex by locating testes for males
and ovaries for females. The alimentary canals of hosts
were removed and cut open in the normal saline water in
petridishes. The cestodes,were collected and counted
separately in each infection.Formulae of prevalence, mean
intensity and relative density3
Prevalence : Number of individuals of the host
fish infected with cestode divided by number of hosts
examined.
TABLE-1 : Average annual variations in the prevalence, mean intensity and relative density of cestode
infection in relation to the sex of the host
Sex No. of hosts Number of Prevalence Mean Relative
cestodes intensity density
Examined Infected obtained
Male 134 21 35 0.156 1.666 0.261
Female 106 10 14 0.094 1.4 0.132
Fig. 1 : Average annual variations in the prevalence, mean intensity and relative density of cestode infection
in relation to the sex of the host
Number of hosts infected
Prevalence = --------------------------------------------
Number of hosts examined
Mean Intensity : Total number of cestode parasites
in a sample of host fish divided by number of infected
individuals of host in the sample.
Total Number of parasites obtained
Mean intensity = -----------------------------------------------------
Total number of hosts infected
Relativde Density : Total number of individuals of
cestode parasites in a sample of host fish divided by
total number of individuals of the host.
Total number of parasites obtained
Relative density=-----------------------------------------------------
Total number of hosts examined
Observations
Average annual variations in the prevalence, mean
intensity and relative density of cestode infection in the
male and female host fishes in relation to the sex of the
host are given in Table-01 and Fig- 01.
1. The prevalence of cestode infection in the host was
0.156 in males and 0.094 in females.
2. The mean intensity of cestode infection in the host
was 1.666 in males while 1.4 in females.
3. The relative density of cestode infection in the host
was 0.261 in males whereas 0.132 in females.
Discussion and Conclusion
In the present observations male fishes showed
higher annual prevalence, mean intensity and relative
density of cestodes infection than the female fishes (Table
01, Fig. 01).
An Indian parasitologist5 reported that male
Hemidactylus flaviviridis showed higher annual prevalence
and relative density of cestodes infection than the female
hosts. An immunologist2 reported that the prevalence and
intensity of infections caused by protozoa, nematodes,
treamatodes, cestodes and arthropods is higher in males
than females. According to him immunological differences
exist between the sexes that may underline increased
parasitism in males compared to females. He also reported
that the female sex hormones estrogens increase the
formation of interferons and other immunological factors
which increase resistance in females, while male sex
hormone testosterone reduces antibody production which
decreased resistance in males.
Some researchers1 reported that parasites show
reciprocal relationship amongst sex steroids and the
immune system in the host. In certain cases, hormones
Study of cestode infection in relation to the sex of the host fish, Mastacembelus armatus 309
can regulate the innate and adaptive immune response.
Similarly some workers4 also reported that Sex steroids
are important for the growth and development of many
species of parasites.
On the basis of above discussion, it can be
concluded that due to changes in endocrine–immune
interactions males Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede)
are more susceptible to cestodes infection than females.
References
1. Aguilar-Díaz H , Nava-Castro KE , Cerbón-Cervantes MA , Meneses-Ruiz DM, Ponce-Regalado MD, Morales-
Montor J. Endocrine Immune Interactions in the Host-Parasite Relationship: Steroid Hormones as Immune
Regulators in Parasite Infections. J. Steroids & Horm Sci. 2015; 6(3): 2-12 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7536.1000165.
2. Klein, SL. Hormonal and immunological mechanisms mediating sex differences in parasitic infection. Parasit.
Immunol. 2004; 26 : 247-264.
3. Morgolis L, Esch GW, Holmes JC, Kuris AM, Schad A. The use of ecological terms in parasitology (Report of an
ad Hoc committee of the American society of Parasitologists). J. Parasitol. 1982; 68 (1): 131-133.
4. Romano MC, Jiménez P, Miranda-Brito C, Valdez RA. Parasites and steroid hormones: corticosteroid and sex
steroid synthesis, their role in the parasite physiology and development. Front. Neurosci. 2015; 9: 224. DOI:
10.3389/fnins.2015.00224.
5. Srivastav, RN. ‘Morphotaxonomy and ecological studies of the helminth parasites in certain Amniotes’. Ph.D.
Thesis, Bundelkhand Univ., Jhansi (U.P.) India. 2003. pp. 76-120.
310 Reetesh Kumar Khare
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Endocrine Immune Interactions in the Host-Parasite Relationship: Steroid Hormones as Immune Regulators in Parasite Infections
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Parasites and steroid hormones: corticosteroid and sex steroid synthesis, their role in the parasite physiology and development
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In many cases parasites display highly complex life cycles that include the penetration and permanence of the larva or adults within host organs, but even in those that only have one host, reciprocal, intricate interactions occur. Evidence indicates that steroid hormones have an influence on the development and course of parasitic infections. The host gender's susceptibility to infection, and the related differences in the immune response are good examples of the host-parasite interplay. However, the capacity of these organisms to synthesize their own steroidogenic hormones still has more questions than answers. It is now well-known that many parasites synthesize ecdysteroids, but limited information is available on sex steroid and corticosteroid synthesis. This review intends to summarize some of the existing information in the field. In most, but not all parasitosis the host's hormonal environment determines the susceptibility, the course, and severity of parasite infections. In most cases the infection disturbs the host environment, and activates immune responses that end up affecting the endocrine system. Furthermore, sex steroids and corticosteroids may also directly modify the parasite reproduction and molting. Available information indicates that parasites synthesize some steroid hormones, such as ecdysteroids and sex steroids, and the presence and activity of related enzymes have been demonstrated. More recently, the synthesis of corticosteroid-like compounds has been shown in Taenia solium cysticerci and tapeworms, and in Taenia crassiceps WFU cysticerci. In-depth knowledge of the parasite's endocrine properties will contribute to understand their reproduction and reciprocal interactions with the host, and may also help designing tools to combat the infection in some clinical situations.
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Hormonal and immunological mechanisms mediating sex differences in parasite infection
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  • Jun 2004
The prevalence and intensity of infections caused by protozoa, nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, and arthropods is higher in males than females. The primary thesis of this review is that immunological differences exist between the sexes that may underlie increased parasitism in males compared to females. Several field and laboratory studies link sex differences in immune function with circulating steroid hormones; thus, the roles of sex steroids, including testosterone, oestradiol, and progesterone, as well as glucocorticoids will be discussed. Not only can host hormones affect responses to infection, but parasites can both produce and alter hormone concentrations in their hosts. The extent to which changes in endocrine-immune interactions following infection are mediated by the host or the parasite will be considered. Although males are more susceptible than females to many parasites, there are parasites for which males are more resistant than females and endocrine-immune interactions may underlie this sex reversal. Finally, although immunological differences exist between the sexes, genetic and behavioural differences may explain some variability in response to infection and will be explored as alternative hypotheses for how differences between the sexes contribute to dimorphic responses to parasites.
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  • 76-120
  • R N Srivastav
Srivastav, RN. 'Morphotaxonomy and ecological studies of the helminth parasites in certain Amniotes'. Ph.D. Thesis, Bundelkhand Univ., Jhansi (U.P.) India. 2003. pp. 76-120.