Morphological and molecular studies on two myxosporean infections of cyprinid fishes: Thelohanellus pyriformis from tench and Thelohanellus cf. fuhrmanni from nase.

During surveys on myxosporean parasites of Lake Balaton and River Danube fishes, two Thelohanellus spp. were found on tench (Tinca tinca) and on common nase (Chondrostoma nasus). They were identified as Thelohanellus pyriformis and Thelohanellus cf. fuhrmanni, respectively. Myxospores of T. pyriformis from tench were collected from arteria branchialis afferens of gill filaments. The mature myxospores of this species were pyriform in shape and 19 ± 0.6l (18-19.5) long, 8.2 ± 0.54 (7.5-9) wide, 7.3 ± 0.25 (7-7.5) thick containing polar tubules with 9-10 turns. The plasmodia of Thelohanellus cf. fuhrmanni were collected from under the skin of snout of the common nase. The myxospores were pyriform, 16.3 ± 0.39l (15.5-16.5) long, 6.5 ± 0.55 (6.3-7) wide, 6.3 ± 0.53 (5.8-7) thick containing polar tubules with 6 turns. Small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences of both Thelohanellus species differed from other known myxozoans. The myxospores morphology, histopathology and ssrDNA sequences supported a diagnosis of T. pyriformis from tench and T. cf. fuhrmanni from common nase.

The occurrence of known Myxobolus and Thelohanellus species (Myxozoa, Myxosporea) from Indian major carps with the description of Myxobolus bandyopadhyayi n. sp. in West Bengal.

Myxosporean infection of Indian major carps (rohu, Labeo rohita; catla, Gibelion catla; mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala) was examined from two fish farms and two fish markets in West Bengal, India. One Thelohanellus and four Myxobolus species were detected from the fins and scales of the investigated species. Comprehensive morphological and molecular biological studies revealed four already known species, Thelohanellus caudatus from the fins of rohu, Myxobolus dermiscalis from the scales of rohu, Myxobolus chakravartyi from the fins of catla, and Myxobolus rewensis from the fins of mrigal. This study complemented the species description of M. chakravartyi and M. rewensis with the missing molecular data. Moreover, based on morphometrics and ssrDNA sequence data, a new species was documented from the scales of rohu, and named Myxobolus bandyopadhyayi n. sp.

Description of myxosporeans (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) infecting the popular food fish Notopterus notopterus (Pisces: Notopteridae) in Malaysia and India.

This study was a co-operative investigation of myxosporean infections of Notopterus notopterus, the bronze featherback, which is a popular food fish in the South Asian region. We examined fish from Lake Kenyir, Malaysia and the River Ganga, Hastinapur, Uttar Pradesh, India, and observed infections with two myxosporeans: Myxidium cf. notopterum (Myxidiidae) and Henneguya ganapatiae (Myxobolidae), respectively. These species were identified by myxospore morphology, morphometry and host tissue affinity, and the original descriptions supplemented with small-subunit ribosomal DNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis. Free myxospores of M. cf. notopterum were found in the gallbladder, and measured 14.7 ±â€¯0.6 µm long and 6.3 ±â€¯0.6 µm wide; host, tissue and myxospore dimensions overlapped with the type, but differed in morphological details (spore shape, valve cell ridges) and locality (Malaysia versus India). Plasmodia and spores of H. ganapatiae were observed in gills, and myxospores had a spore body 9.7 ±â€¯0.4 µm long, 4.5 ±â€¯0.5 µm wide; sample locality, host, tissue, spore morphology and morphometry matched the original description. Small-subunit ribosomal DNA sequences were deposited in GenBank (M. cf. notopterum MT365527, H. ganapatiae MT365528) and both differed by >7% from congeneric species. Although the pathogenicity and clinical manifestation of myxozoan in humans are poorly understood, consumption of raw fish meat with myxozoan infection was reported to be associated with diarrhea. Identification of current parasite fauna from N. notopterus is an essential first step in assessing pathogen risks to stocks of this important food fish.

Morphological, histological, and molecular description of Myxobolus ompok n. sp. (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae), a kidney myxozoan from Pabdah catfish Ompok pabda (Hamilton, 1822) (Siluriformes: Siluridae) in India.

In a parasitological survey of freshwater fishes near Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, myxozoan infections in Pabdah catfish Ompok pabda Ham. (Siluriformes: Siluridae) were found. Round plasmodia and scattered spores of Myxobolus ompok n. sp. were found in the kidney of the host. Plasmodia measuring 150-200 µm were located in the renal interstitium. Spores of Myxobolus ompok n. sp. were elongated pyriform, 13.6-14.4 (14.8 ± 0.42) µm long, 5.6-6.4 (6.5 ± 0.33) µm wide, and 5.2-6.4 (5.9 ± 0.43) µm thick with two equal polar capsules measuring 8.0-8.5 (8.2 ± 0.2) µm in length and 1.5-2.4 (1.8 ± 0.33) in width having six filamental turns. Both the morphology and DNA analysis of the 18S rRNA gene revealed that Myxobolus ompok n. sp. is distinct from previously described species of Myxobolus and shares no significant similarity with any other Myxobolus deposited in the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis inferred that this species showed the closest similarity to Myxobolus miyarii (KT001495). This is the first record of any Myxobolus sp. from O. pabda in India.

Molecular Characterization of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda: Heligmosomatidae) from Mus musculus in India.

Mus musculus (Rodentia: Muridae) has generally been infected with a rodent hookworm Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. In this report, we present morphological and molecular identification of N. brasiliensis by light and scanning electron microscopy and PCR amplification of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene and the protein sequences encoded by cox1 gene, respectively. Despite the use of N. brasiliensis in many biochemistry studies from India, their taxonomic identification was not fully understood, especially at the species level, and no molecular data is available in GenBank from India. Sequence analysis of cox1 gene in this study revealed that the present specimen showed close identity with the same species available in GenBank, confirming that the species is N. brasiliensis. This study represents the first record of molecular identification of N. brasiliensis from India and the protein structure to better understand the comparative phylogenetic characteristics.

First Molecular Characterization of Aspiculuris tetraptera (Nematoda: Heteroxynematidae) from Mus musculus (Rodentia: Muridae) in India.

Mus musculus (Rodentia: Muridae) were infected by a nematode belonging to the order Oxyurida. According to external morphological characters it was found to be Aspiculuris tetraptera Schulz, 1924. Present communication deals with molecular characterization of A. tetraptera infecting intestine of Mus musculus in Meerut (U.P.), India. A partial sequence of 18S ribosomal and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox 1) mitochondrial DNA analyses were performed. Sequence corresponding to 18S rRNA and mt Cox 1 gene was identical to sequences reported for A. tetraptera on GenBank. These results confirm the taxonomic validation of A. tetraptera parasitizing Mus musculus. This is the first report of molecular study of A. tetraptera in India.