Radhakrishnan S., Nair N.B., Balasubramanian N.K., 1983. Gymnorhynchus gigas plerocercoid (Cestoda: Gymnorhynchidae) infection of the liver of Diodon hystrix (Pisces: Diodontidae). III. Biochemical composition of infected fish. Acta Ichthyol. Piscat. 13 (2): 141-147.

The changes in the proximate composition of the liver and white muscle of Diodon hystrix infected with the plerocercoid of Gymnorhynchus gigas have been studied. The changes in the liver are marked by a significant increase in water content, free fatty acid and total nitrogen contents concurrent with a significant decrease in fat and glycogen. In the case of muscle the most conspicuous change is the significant reduction of glycogen content and significant increase in water and free fatty acid contents. In general, the changes in the proximate composition brought about by the infection are comparable to those occurring during starvation.