Lernaeid Copepod Parasitic on the Freshwater Fishes of Godavari River, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India with Description of a New Species, Lernaea Notopteri N.Sp
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Journal of Applied Life Sciences International 9(3): 1-13, 2016; Article no.JALSI.30123 ISSN: 2394-1103 SCIENCEDOMAIN international www.sciencedomain.org Lernaeid Copepod Parasitic on the Freshwater Fishes of Godavari River, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India with Description of a New Species, Lernaea notopteri n.sp. from Notopterus notopterus Anu Prasanna Vankara 1*, Mani Gudivada 2 and Vijayalakshmi Chikkam 3 1Department of Zoology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, 516 003, India. 2Department of Zoology, Maharajah College, Vizianagaram-535 002, India. 3Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530 003, India. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author APV designed the study, collected the host samples from sampling sites, carried out dissections, collected the parasites and managed the literature searches. Authors MG and VC helped in processing the parasites and preparing the first and final draft of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/JALSI/2016/30123 Editor(s): (1) Martin Koller, University of Graz, Research Management and Service, c/o Institute of Chemistry, Austria. Reviewers: (1) Asifa Wali, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, India. (2) Daniel Guerreiro Diniz, Universidade Federal do Pará, Brasil. (3) Mauricio Laterça Martins, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/17016 Received 18 th October 2016 Accepted 18 th November 2016 Short Research Article th Published 24 November 2016 ABSTRACT Lernaeid copepods are one of the most detrimental and ubiquitous ectoparasites of cultured and wild variety freshwater fishes. River Godavari offers a dynamic habitat to a wide variety of fishes which are in turn infected by endo and ectoparasites. In a copepod parasitic survey on various species of freshwater fishes of River Godavari, Rajahmundry from 2007-2009, a total of 5 freshwater fishes were parasitized by copepods of the genus Lernaea . Four different adult species of Lernaea were found clinging to the skin of Channa punctatus , Catla catla , Barbus sp. , Macrognathus aculeatus and Notopterus notopterus i.e., Lernaea bengalensis Gnanamuthu, [17], _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]; Vankara et al.; JALSI, 9(3): 1-13, 2016; Article no.JALSI.30123 Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758, Lernaea cyprinacea mastacembeli Hu, [13] and a new species, Lernaea notopteri n.sp. The new lerneaid copepod, Lernaea notopteri was reported from Notopterus notopterus showed variations in cephalic arms, antenna, maxillipede and Leg-V from the other closely related species and hence was designated as new species. Keywords: Crustacea; lernaeidae; India; River Godavari; fresh water fish; descriptions; n. sp (new species). 1. INTRODUCTION collected and fixed in 10% formalin. The parasites were identified by keeping them in Ectoparasites in particular, lernaeids are deemed cavity blocks with a few drops of lactic acid for to be one of the most harmful and prevalent 12-24 hrs for clearing. Parasites were observed, ectoparasites of cultured fishes [1]. Lernaeids identified and captured in photographs under commonly known as ‘anchor worms’ are the Lynx trinocular microscope (N-800M). For crustacean copepod parasites infecting a wide detailed study, one parasite from each group was variety of wild caught and pond-raised freshwater dissected; mouthparts and appendages were fishes. Approximately, 110 lernaeid species have separated to draw line diagrams with the been reported under the genus [2]. Damage aid of attached drawing tube in the caused by Lerneids is very severe and can result microscope. Measurements are given in in “Lernaeosis” outbreak infecting major parts of millimetres (mm) with ocular micrometer unless the body such as skin, eyes, gills, fins, mouth otherwise stated. and tissues of infected fishes and results in the mortality of the young fishes [3-6]. Female 3. RESULTS lernaeids are known to be more parasitic in nature as they attack body surface of fish and In the present survey, only 5 freshwater fish were penetrates deep into the tissues after eating fish infected with the copepods of the genus Lernaea . scales forming a deep wounds which in turn Out of four adult species of Lernaea , i.e Lernaea invite secondary microbial infections [7-12]. Many bengalensis Gnanamuthu, [17] from Channa scientists all over world focused on the severity, punctatus , Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758 pathogenicity and diversity of lernaeid parasites from Catla catla and Barbus sp. , Lernaea infesting various freshwater fishes [2,3,13-32]. cyprinacea mastacembeli Hu, [13] from Also, few scientists added a note on the life- Macrognathus aculeatus are redescriptions while history of lernaeid parasites [15,33-35]. River Lernaea notopteri n. sp. found adhered to the Godavari is known for its dynamic environment, skin of Notopterus notopterus is reported as new enriched by the nutrients proved to be a highly species and is described in detail. The diversity productive and prospective field to accomplish parameters of each lernaeid species is detailed fishery research. Godavari River inhabits a in Table 5. diversified array of teleostean fauna which in turn offer a diversified range of habitat to the Family : Lernaeidae Cobbold, 1879 metazoan parasitic fauna. This study aims to Genus : Lernaea Linnaeus, [38] analyse the lernaeid copepods keeping the severity of the infection in view caused by these Lernaea bengalensis Gnanamuthu, [17] parasites on the freshwater fishes of River (Plate-1: Figs. 1-10; Tables 1 and 5) Godavari, Rajahmundry. Host: Channa punctatus Bloch 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Site of infection: skin of the fish near dorsal, anal Fish were collected from fishery locations and and pectoral fins local markets near River Godavari, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh during 2007-2009 Locality: Godavari River, Rajahmundry, Andhra and were brought to the laboratory for thorough Pradesh examination of skin and gills. The skin and gill filaments were carefully washed and teased, and Description (based on 38 specimens): the contents were observed under a stereo microscope (LM-52-3621 Elegant). Standard Body (4.52-5.11) elongate, cylindrical, straight. protocols were followed to preserve and identify Body well-marked into head, neck, trunk and the parasites [36,37]. Copepod parasites were abdomen. Head (0.21-0.28) covered by sub- 2 Vankara et al.; JALSI, 9(3): 1-13, 2016; Article no.JALSI.30123 elliptical lobe, fused all around. Mouth parts Host: Catla catla ., Barbus sp. covered by lobe. First thoracic segment fused with the head and is the broadest part of the Site of infection: Skin body, extends laterally into four unbranched, simple cephalic arms which appear as ‘X’ when Locality: Godavari River, Rajahmundry, Andhra viewed from the front. Anterior arms shorter than Pradesh posterior. Cephalic arms 1.18-2.01. Posterior region of first segment with first pair of legs Description (based on 12 specimens): curved towards each other. Neck uniformly slender, cylindrical and bears second and third Total body 4.58-4.78. Head circular, projects out pair of legs. Trunk (3.42-3.56) is the longest part from the body in the form of a protruberance. of the body, broadens posteriorly and bulges to Head (0.17-0.18 x 0.15-0.16) fused all around. form genital region and bears fourth and First thoracic segment fused with cephalon and fifth legs. Two large round swellings pressed is the broadest part of the body, extending together form ‘heel’ known as pregenital laterally into four bifid cephalic arms. Cephalic prominces lodge the egg sacs. Abdomen arms in the form of ‘X’ when viewed from the (0.85-0.98) cylindrical, squarish or slightly front. Anterior arms (0.30-0.45 x 0.20) shorter round bears two anal laminae. Lamina than posterior arms (0.50 x 0.20). Posterior (0.21-0.25) two segmented, basal, naked; distal region of the first segment bears first pair of legs with three short spines and a long seta. First which curve towards each other between the two antenna : 5-segmented; basal short with one seta ventro-lateral arms. Neck or free thorax slender, on the outer distal corner, second segment with a cylindrical bearing second and third pairs of legs. long seta and few short setae on the outer Behind the third pair starts the trunk, to form margin; third segment naked; fourth with a long, genital region and bears fourth and fifth pair of blunt seta on the distal margin and distal legs. Abdomen (0.52-0.55 x 0.34-0.36) with three setae on the inner margin and few cylindrical. Posterior tip of abdomen bears to setae apically. Second antenna : 3-segmented, elongated, small, conical anal laminae. Each basal short and naked; middle longer than lamina (0.20-0.22) with a long seta and two short basal and naked and distal curved to a blunt spine like setae. First antenna : 4-segmented, terminal claw and with setae apically. Maxillule : basal naked, second segment large and broad First maxilla not clearly visible. Maxilla: 2- with numerous setae scattered on the outer segmented, basal broad and short; distal curved margin; third segment with one seta on the inner to a blunt claw. Maxilliped : Two-segmented, distal margin; distal with one seta on the outer basal short, naked and distal long, with five margin, three setae on the inner margin and a terminal claws, a blunt process and a conical tuft of setae apically. Second antenna : Three- process with short setae on the inner medial segmented; basal and second segment naked, margin. Legs I to IV biramous; with three- distal long and slender terminally curved to a segmented exopod and endopod. Of the four blunt spine with three setae on the inner margin pairs of thoracic legs, the first pair occurs on the and few setae apically. Maxillule : First maxilla not first thoracic segment fused with head, while the clearly visible.