Prevalence of ectoparasites of Balitoridae fishes in some upstream rivers at Kundasang / Mohd Al Hafiz Sovester

A study of prevalence of ectoparasites of Balitoridae fishes was conducted at some upstream rivers at Kundasang. The aim of this study was to determine ectoparasites on Balitoridae fishes at Kundasang. Besides that, the study also evaluate the ectoparasites prevalence and intensity on Balitoridae fishes at some upstream rivers at Kundasang. This study will lead action on the conservation action of Gastromyzon and Protomyzon species in upstream rivers as pollution indicator. The sample of ectoparasites was done by scrapping the mucous of 137 samples of Balitoridae fishes. From the total samples of fishes, 63 are Protomyzon borneensis, 63 are Protomyzon griswoldi and 13 are Gastromyzon borneensis. There were six groups of ectoparasites on the surface of Balitoridae fishes. They were under the group of protozoa Trichodina spp, Cestoidean (tapeworm) Proteocephalus sp, Nematode (roundworm) Camallanus sp, Copepods Crustaceans Paraergasilus sp, Branchiura (fish lice) Argulus sp and Hirudinae (leeches) Myzobdella sp. The highest ectoparasites found on Balitoridae fishes is protozoa Trichodina spp which is 507 out of 612 total parasites. Overall, after examine all Balitoridae fishes sample, the prevalence of ectoparsites is 35.04% and intensity of ectoparasites is 12.80. The prevalence of ectoparasite for each species of fishes, Protomyzon bornensis arel9.4% Protomyzon griswoldi are 51.6% and Gastromyzon borneensis are 30.8%.