Materials and Methods

Abstract

Digeneans infect almost every species of marine fish. According to the estimates of the Zoological Survey of India, Fisheries Division is approximately 1,400 species of marine fish in the Indian Ocean. On average, each species of marine fish harbours one species of digenean (Poulin & Morand, 2000). From the records, it is evident that only 50% of digeneans have so far been recorded and there is vast scope for future studies. For proper identification of digeneans, it is necessary to see that uniform methods are followed for collection, fixation, staining and mounting of the parasite and the slide prepared is of a high standard permitting detailed study of its organization on which depends the identification of the parasite.