Influence of Parasite Infestation and Water Quality Deterioration During Mass Fish Mortality Event in Manzala Lake and its Corresponding Fish Farms
Influence of Parasite Infestation and Water Quality Deterioration During Mass Fish Mortality Event in Manzala Lake and its Corresponding Fish Farms
Magdy M. Fahmy1, Nisreen E. Mahmoud 1*, Mohamed R. Mousa2, Manal M. Zaki3, Elshaimaa Ismael3, Mai Abuowarda1
ABSTRACT
The present study estimated the relation between the prevalence of fish parasitic infestation and water quality deterioration thus evaluated their role in mass fish mortality event in Manzala Lake and its corresponding fish farms. Fish samples together with water samples were collected from 3 affected farms and 6 locations along Manzala Lake. Field observations and physicochemical analysis of water revealed deterioration of water quality indicating marked pollution. Parasitological examination of fish samples showed high total prevalence of 68.18% with 10 different ectoparasite species (4 Crustaceans, 4Monogeneans and2 Protozoans) of which the crustaceans recorded the highest prevalence (63.67%). In the present study, Manzala Lake and its corresponding fish farms considered new localities for the detected crustacean and monogenean species. Significant positive correlations between the prevalence of parasitic infestation and water quality parameters were reported. Pathological finding of the affected fish tissues revealed deleterious responses especially in gill tissues. Result analysis concluded that the associated impacts of ectoparasitic infestation together with the water quality deterioration played a significant role in mass mortalities event . The study recommended periodic monitoring of the lake water .Also, the proper sanitary and regular disposal of the waste remnants of clearing and dredging processes that were taking place by the government in the lake. Additionally, the bio security strategies should be applied in fish farms, also the dependency of farmers on fish seeds for farm stocking from natural open water instead of the hatcheries should be avoided to prevent the entrance of parasites and other undesirable organisms from open seas to the lake and corresponding fish farms. This study is the first to investigate the prevalence of parasite infestation in relation to water deterioration and their role in the mass mortality of fish during 2019 in Manzala Lake and corresponding fish farms.
Keywords | Fish, Parasites,Water deterioration, Mortality.
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