Mineral constituents of freshwater fish Channa striatus infected with acanthocephalan parasite Pallisentis nagpurensis

Abstract

Freshwater fish, Channa striatus is frequently infected with the gastrointestinal
acanthocephalan parasite Pallisentis nagpurensis. These spiny headed worms
pierce and rupture the lining of the host intestine and absorb nutrients causing
serious nutrient depletion. An attempt was made to study the changes in the
mineral content of the infected host fish and compare with the uninfected ones.
The mineral content of the worm was also assessed. In the host fish, potassium
was high in muscle, whereas sodium was high in liver. Compared to the tissues
of the heavily infected fishes, the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, lead,
zinc and iron contents were high in the worms, suggesting that the worms interfere
with the mineral metabolism of the host fish