A histopathological study of intestinal lesions of indigenous carp (schizothorax species) infected with pomphorhynchus species in river jehlum, Kashmir.

Pomphorhynchus kashmirensis Kaw, 1941 is the first of 09 species of Pomphorhynchus Monticelli, 1905 described from freshwater fishes in the Jammu-Kashmir region of the Northern Indian subcontinent. It was originally well described from Nemachilus kashmirensis Hora, 1922 (Balitoridae) in Kashmir but many of its features could not be adequately visualized or confirmed. Histopathological aspect of Pomphorhyncus species (Acanthocephala) infecting Schizothorax species was studied. The parasite- Pomphorhynchus bores deeply with proboscis into the intestinal wall with ensheathed proboscis floating freely in the coelom and part of trunk lying in the lumen of intestine. The histopathological studies showed that whole organisation of the normal intestine was found to be disrupted. The neck and proboscis were surrounded by a layer of compact rounded fibroblasts and scattered connective tissue. These layers extended across the entire gut wall and into the capsule that enclosed proboscis outside the gut wall. The formation of fibrous capsule evoked by the penetration of intestine by Pomphorhyncus species of Acanthocephala was found to be one of the most significant parasites responsible for fish morbidity and mortality.