BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Presence of parasites in fishes has been reported to severely damage the status of antioxidants in them. Among helminth parasites, Pomphorhyncus an acanthocephalan parasite is commonly found in Schizothorax fish of Kashmir and is causing a considerable damage to fish health. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant status in muscle, intestine and liver tissues of Schizothorax plagiostomus parasitized by Pomphorhyncus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this, 9 fish specimens collected from Nallah Sukhnag (Budgam) were found to be infected only with Pomphorhyncus, an acanthocephalan parasite. Fishes having the infection of Pomphorhynchus and the same number of uninfected ones were then analyzed for enzymatic antioxidants. Lipid peroxidation and protein content was also assayed for both infected and uninfected fishes. Statistically the whole data were represented as mean and standard deviation. RESULTS: RESULTS showed the reduction of glutathione-s-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), protein content while increase in lipid peroxidation in infected muscle, intestine and liver tissues as compared to respective organs of the uninfected fishes. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that parasitic infections induce oxidative stress.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Presence of parasites in fishes has been reported to severely damage the status of antioxidants in them. Among helminth parasites, Pomphorhyncus an acanthocephalan parasite is commonly found in Schizothorax fish of Kashmir and is causing a considerable damage to fish health. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant status in muscle, intestine and liver tissues of Schizothorax plagiostomus parasitized by Pomphorhyncus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this, 9 fish specimens collected from Nallah Sukhnag (Budgam) were found to be infected only with Pomphorhyncus, an acanthocephalan parasite. Fishes having the infection of Pomphorhynchus and the same number of uninfected ones were then analyzed for enzymatic antioxidants. Lipid peroxidation and protein content was also assayed for both infected and uninfected fishes. Statistically the whole data were represented as mean and standard deviation. RESULTS: RESULTS showed the reduction of glutathione-s-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), protein content while increase in lipid peroxidation in infected muscle, intestine and liver tissues as compared to respective organs of the uninfected fishes. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that parasitic infections induce oxidative stress.