Myxobolus leafa sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Bivalbulida) from the gill filament of Labeo bata (Hamilton) from Manipur, India.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the gill filaments of Labeo bata in India parasitologically and to describe the new Myxozoa parasite species, Myxobolus leafa sp. nov., which was determined. METHODS: Fish were collected alive from fish farms from Manipur (India). Sporogonic plasmodia were removed with sterile forceps and observed under phase contrast microscope. For permanent preparations, air dried smears were stained with Giemsa after fixation in acetone free absolute methanol. RESULTS: Mature spores of the new species appear as leaf-like structures in valvular or frontal view, tapering at both ends. The anterior end of the spore is broader than the posterior end. Spores measure 15.3-11.8 µm (16.91 ± 1.16) in length and 13.6-15.3 µm (14.15 ± 0.67) in breadth. CONCLUSION: The new gill parasite species, Myxobolus leafa sp. nov., was described from fish in India. The prevalence of the parasite was 3.3% and two stages (cyst and spore) of the parasite existed in its life cycle.

Studies on Trichodinid and Chilodonellid Ciliophorans (Protozoa: Ciliophora) in the Indian freshwater and estuarine fishes with description of Trichodinella sunderbanensis sp. nov. and Trichodina nandusi sp. nov.

A comprehensive icthyoparasotological survey among estuarine and freshwater fishes of West Bengal, India revealed Trichodinella sunderbanensis sp. nov. and Trichodina acuta Lom, 1961 from an estuarine fish Mystus gulio (Hamilton, 1822) from the Vidyadhari river; Trichodina nandusi sp. nov. from a freshwater fish, Nandus nandus (Hamilton-Buchanan); Chilodonella hexasticha (Kiernik, 1909) Kahl, 1931 from freshwater fishes Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822); and Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 from the Rupnarayan river. Taxonomic description of all the species based on wet silver nitrate impregnation method along with additional comments based on scanning electron microscopic descriptions of T. nandusi sp. nov. are also provided in this paper. Prevalence rate, morphometric parameters and comparisons with closely related species are also discussed.

Description of two new species of ectoparasitic Trichodina Ehrenberg, 1830 (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae) from freshwater fishes in the river Ganges, India.

Two new species of the genus Trichodina Ehrenberg, 1838, T. silondiata sp. nov. and T. pangasi sp. nov. from the gills of freshwater fish Silonia silondia (Hamilton 1822) and Pangasius pangasius (Hamilton-Buchanan) respectively from the river Ganges of West Bengal are described here. Wet smears of gills and skins were prepared in the field, air dried and impregnated with Klein's dry silver method. In case of S. silondia (Hamilton 1822) 24 out of 146 host fishes were parasitized on the gills. Infestation rate in case of P. pangasius (Hamilton-Buchanan) was not significant. From a total of 86 examined host fish, only seven were parasitized on the gills. The mean diameters of the body of the specimens of T. silondiata sp. nov. and T. pangasi sp. nov. were 32.7-60.6 (46.4 ± 6.3) µm and 38.9-54.1 (44.9 ± 3.0) µm respectively. Taxonomic and morphometric data for these ectoparasitic trichodinids based on wet silver nitrate impregnated specimens are presented.

Apolocystis cognetti sp. nov. (Apicomplexa: Monocystinae) a new aseptate gregarine species from the earthworm Amynthas hawayanus (Annelida: Oligochaeta) from West Bengal, India.

During the course of surveys of endoparasitic aseptate gregarines in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India, seminal vesicles of Amynthas hawayanus (Rosa 1891) found to be infested with a new species of the genus Apolocystis (Cognetti de Martiis 1923). Trophozoites are spherical or rounded and without any polar differentiation. Diameter of the trophozoite ranges from 65.4 to 126.7 (91.8 ± 17.5) µm. Nucleus diameter measures 12.2-20.4 (14.4 ± 2.2) µm. Gametocyst is round and measures 73.6-110.4 (93.3 ± 14.0) µm and contains two unequal gametocytes. Oocyst measures 7.7-10.7 (9.5 ± 0.9) µm × 3.8-5.3 (4.6 ± 0.4) µm.

Occurrence of Trichodinid Ciliophorans (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) in the freshwater fishes of the river Churni with description of Trichodina glossogobae sp. nov. in West Bengal, India.

Between January 2011 and March 2011 occurrence of trichodinid ciliophorans were studied in the freshwater fishes of the river Churni. The biodiversity survey revealed presence of a new species of the genus Trichodina (Ehrenberg 1830) infesting Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton-Buchanan). Another freshwater fish Labeo bata (Hamilton 1822) were found to be infested with two species of the genus Tripartiella Lom 1959: Tripartiella bulbosa (Davis 1947) Lom 1959 and T. copiosa Lom 1959. Adhesive disc size of the new Trichodina species is small measuring 30.6-46.9 (36.2 ± 3.9) µm in diameter. The centre of the disc is finely granular and transforms into dark when impregnated with silver. The overall prevalence of this species is 15.6% (12/77). Tripartiella bulbosa and T. copiosa are very small sized ciliophorans, measuring 16.7-23.8 (20.6 ± 2.2) µm and 15.2-22.4 (19.7 ± 1.9) µm in diameter, respectively.

On the occurrence of a gregarine parasite (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinorida) from the seminal vesicles of earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of Bangladesh.

In a survey of the endoparasitic acephaline gregarines in the Satkhira district of Bangladesh, seminal vesicles of earthworm, Metaphire posthuma were found to be infested with a new species of the genus Enterocystis Tsvetcov 1926, Enterocystis elongatum sp. nov. The new species is elongated and measures 55.3-87.8 (67.7 ± 10.3) µm in length and 33.2-37.8 (35.7 ± 1.6) µm in width. Nucleus ovoid and measures 4.4-8.8 (6.6 ± 2.2) µm in length and 4.4-6.6 (5.3 ± 1.1) µm in width. Gametocyst with two unequal sized gametocytes and measures 88.4-101.7 µm (97.9 ± 4.8) µm in length and 77.6-95.0 (86.9 ± 7.7) µm in width. Oocysts ellipsoidal and measure 13.7-19.9 (16.7 ± 2.6) µm in length and 6.6-8.8 (7.6 ± 1.1) µm in width. Prominent association or syzygy is present in life cycle.

Observation on Monocystis constricta n. sp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Monocystidae) from an Indian earthworm, Eutyphoeus quaripapillatus Michelsen, 1907.

A biodiversity survey of aseptate gregarines in earthworm hosts in the Calcutta district of West Bengal State revealed the existence of a new species of aseptate gregarine under the genus Monocystis Stein, 1848. The monocystid gregarines obtained from the earthworm host, Eutyphoeus quaripapillatus Michelsen, 1907 have been identified as a new species. The mucron was indistinct. The gamonts are elongated, ovoid, have a hood like structure at the anterior end and measure 150.1-212.4 (188.1+/-2.1) micromx66.1-112.1 (72.3+/-1.1) microm. The gametocysts are ellipsoid and measure 92.3-136.3 microm (111.2+/-2.1)x78.3-114.4 microm (82.6+/-3.6) microm. Prominent syzygy was apparent. Oocysts are navicular, measuring 14.1-22.3 (18.1+/-3.2) micromx9.1-15.2 (11.9+/-1.1) microm.

Monocystis apporectodae sp. nov. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida), from an Indian earthworm Apporectodea trapezoides Duges.

A survey aimed at exploring the endoparasitic acephaline gregarine diversity in South-western Bengal, detected a new species of the genus Monocystis Stein, 1848, that resides in the seminal vesicles of the earthworm, Apporectodea trapezoides Duges collected in the district of Bankura from alluvial soil. Monocystis apporectodae sp. nov. is a ribbon-like organism with one or more prominent constric-tions especially in some mature forms and measures 178.0-224.0 (203.0+/-5.0) microm x 37.0-58.0 (46.0+/-1.5) microm. The extreme ends are pointed. Its gametocysts are ovoid and measure 108.0-118.0 microm (113.0+/-1.1) x 79.0-89.0 (83.0+/-1.1) microm. Oocysts are navicular in shape. The length of the oocysts ranges from 10.0-14.6 and the width, from 5.5-8.1 microm.

Monocystis metaphirae sp. nov. (Protista: Apicomplexa: Monocystidae) from the earthworm Metaphire houlleti (Perrier).

Biodiversity studies in search of endoparasitic acephaline gregarines revealed a new species of the genus Monocystis Stein, 1848 in the seminal vesicles of the earthworm Metaphire houlleti (Perrier) residing in alluvial soil of the district of North 24 Parganas. The new species is characterized by having bean-shaped gamonts measuring 94.0-151.0 (119.0+/-16.0) microm x 53.0-81.0(66.0+/-8.0) microm. The anterior end of the gamont is always wider than the posterior end. The mucron is always present at the wider end. The occurrence of syzygy (end to end, cauda-frontal) is a very rare feature which has been observed in the life cycle of the new species. The gametocyst is ovoid consisting of two unequal gamonts, measuring 85.0-102.0 microm (93.0+/-6.0). Oocysts are navicular in shape, measuring 6.5-11.0 (9.0+/-1.1) microm x 4.0-7.5 (5.5+/-1.9) microm.

A new species of Monocystis stein, 1848 (Protista: Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida) from the Indian earthworm, Amynthas Hawayanus Rosa, 1891 (Annelida: Oligochaeta).

As a part of an ongoing biodiversity survey of aseptate gregarine fauna of oligochaete hosts of West Bengal, an expedition was carried out in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal and most of the earthworms collected were found to be infested with a species of Monocystis Stein, 1848. The monocystid species was collected from the seminal vesicles of the earthworm and was identified as a new species, Monocystis amynthae sp. nov. The gamont of the new species is characterized by having an elongated body with broad anterior end, separated from the narrow posterior end by a prominent constriction measuring 49.0-77.0 (66.0+/-1.3) microm x 32.0-41.0 (37.0+/-2.8) microm. The gametocysts are oval-shaped, measuring 40.0-65.0 (58.0+/-2.1) microm. The oocysts are navicular, measuring 8.0-12.0 (10.5+/-1.1) microm x 4.0-6.0 (5.5+/-1.1) microm.