Parasitic infection in an imported fish fantail,a variety of goldfish,Carassius auratus L. in Pakistan

The parasitic infection in an imported ornamental fish fantail,a variety of goldfish carassius auratus purchased from pet shop in lahore was studied. in total eight species of parasites belonging to protozoans,monogenean and digenean trematodes and crustacean were identified. trichodina ehrenberg 1831 infection on skin and fins was 20%,(mean intensity 9.5); ichthyophthirius multifiliis fouquest 1876 infection on gills was 43.3% and on fins 30% (mean intensity 20.72 and 29.25,respectively). there was no difference in the infection of fins and gills by i. multifiliis (χ2 = 1.14,df = 11,p=0.05). tetrahymena sp. infection was 10% (mean intensity 98). gills showed 100% infection with dactylogyrus diesing 1850 (mean intensity 29.3),gyrodactylus von nordmann 1832,infection on skin of fish was 70% (mean intensity 11.1). metacercariae of an unidentified digenean were also found encysted on gills (infection 66.60%,mean intensity 20.4). argulus foliaceus muller,1785 infection was 26.60% and mean intensity 6.0. a cyclopoid stage of lernaea sp. was also observed on skin. dactylogyrus infection was the highest which caused severe damage to gill filaments and secondary lamellae. this study points our attention to a serious issue of import of infected fish. copyright 2014 zoological society of pakistan.