Biomonitoring potential of a Caryophyllaeid tapeworm: Evaluation of Adenoscolex oreini infection level and health status in three fish species of the genus Schizothorax across eutrophication and pollution gradients

•This is the first study to test the biomonitoring potential of a Caryophyllaeid tapeworm species across three lentic water bodies with marked variation in environmental quality.•Infection was significantly associated with eutrophic environmental conditions.•Enhanced eutrophication alters the seasonal pattern of cestode infection.•Fish health indicators varied considerably across the pollution gradient.•Infection indices and health attributes in several host species can estimate health status in an aquatic environment.