127 The Scientific Temper PREDICTATIVE HYPOTHESIS FOR PARASITE DISEASE OUTBREAKS OF ANISAKID NEMATODES Neeshma Jaiswal, Anshu Malhotra** and Sandeep K. Malhotra* *Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211 002, U.P., India. e-mail: neeshversity@gmail.com **DBT Research Associate-1,Department of Fishery Microbiology, College of Fisheries (KVAFSU), Mangalore (Karnataka) ABSTRACT The distribution pattern of Rostellascaris donapaulae were worked out from the stand point of prediction of disease outbreaks occurring in the water body in the Central West Coast of India at Goa. The Scientific Temper July, 2010; No.1: pp127-130 © All Rights Reserved Academy of Innovative Research Email: pntripathiphd@hotmail.com INTRODUCTION The contrast in parasitic behavioural ecology within the fish hosts of isothermal Central West Coast of India (Arabian Sea), Goa has provided a remarkable opportunity to investigate distribution patterns of nematodes of deep sea fishes as well as anisakid larvae in these fishes. The extent of the parasite-induced modifications of host growth, reproduction, and survivorship are not only delimited by the genotypes of the participants, but also environmental conditions. The parasite-induced host life history variation, thus advanced our understanding of host-parasite evolutionary biology. The subject of investigation were anisakid worms infesting deep sea fishes viz. sharks (Rhincodon typus) and constituents of benthic biotas. The long term data have been utilized to develop futuristic models of disease outbreaks using modern computerized software applications. MATERIALS & METHODS The parasitological investigations were conducted during the two and a half years study, at Arabian Sea of Goa (Dona Paula beach), on some of the marine habitats catfishes as well as carps. This analysis is based on 64 months data on sharks upto July 2005. Netting and angling fishing methods were used to capture live fishes and finally brought to the laboratory for parasitological observations. These fishes underwent weighing freshly, sexually determined and their standard length measured. Different organs of alimentary canals such as oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, stripped mucous membranes of the oesophagus and stomach were examined for detection of helminthic infection or any embedded worms. Besides alimentary canal, other organs especially gall bladder, liver, heart muscles and gonads too were microscopically examined. For the purpose of analysis of ecological data and the water temperature at the collection site (Sea coasts of Dona Paula at Goa) an up-to-date record of the number of parasites in different months was maintained, recorded and presented as mean±SE. For morphological studies, the trematode and cestodes were stretched in lukewarm water, fixed in aqueous Bouin’s solution, stained in haemalum or Borax carmine; dehydrated in a series of alcohols (50%, 70%, 90% and 100%), cleared in xylol and finally mounted in Canada balsam. The