Journal of Basrah Researches ((Sciences)) Volume 37. Number 5.A ((2011)) Available online at: www.basra-science journal.org ISSN˰˰1817˰˰2695 Diplectanid parasite from the gills of the triacanthid fish (Triacanthus biaculeatus) captured from Khor Abdullah, Northwest Arabian Gulf, Iraq Essa T. Mohamad and Sundus J. Razak* Department of Marine Biology, Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq *Department of Biology, College of Education, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq Email: [email protected] Abstract In the present study a description of unidentified monogenetic parasite detected from the gills of short nose tripod fish Triacanthus biaculeatus ( Bloch ,1786) was given and it is clear that this parasite differs from the other related diplectanid species by owing a special structure in its cirrus poach. So, its appearance is considered as a new record in the Arabian Gulf waters. 1. Introduction The genus Diplectanum Diesing , 1858 diplectanid genera based on 36 represents one of the genera of the family morphological characters using cladistics Diplectanidae Monticelli, 1903 which are methods. gill parasites of marine perciformes Recently, [10] published a phylogeny and [1,2].Also, this family includes some species revision of the family Diplectanidae and which have been described from freshwater according to the results of their study they fishes [3,4,5]. mentioned that the genus Diplectanum is [6] mentioned that the family restricted to species that have , male Diplectanidae includes about 22 genera and copulatory organ with nested tubes, more than 218 valid species. The first species accessory copulatory organ, prostatic which detected as a member of Diplectanidae reservoir separated into three zones, ventral was proposed by [7] named as and dorsal squamodiscs. Dactylogyrus aequans. Later,[ 8 ] proposed In our region especially in the Arabian the genus Diplectanum as a new genus when Gulf waters the previous record of the genus he transferred Dactylogyrus aequans to Diplectanum was restricted by [11] who Diplectanum aequans and considered it as a detected Diplectanum sp. from the gills of type species of this new genus.[5] in his sciaenid fish Johnius(J.)sina from Khor Al- phylogenetic study proposed the first Zubair estuary. The present article aimed to cladistics analysis for the genera of the family look for more information about the Diplectanidae using the morphological occurrance of the genus Diplectanum in characters.Later,[9] proposed a hypothesis Iraqi marine fishes. of the phylogenetic relationships between the 2. Materials and Method 48 Journal of Basrah Researches ((Sciences)) Volume 37. Number 5.A ((2011)) Twenty two specimens of the parasites model Leitz Biomed and the drawing of the were collected from the gills of Triacanthus parasite were done by the aid of locally biaculeatus off Khor Abdullah during manufactured camera Lucida. All April 2009. The parasites were fixed in measurements are given in millimeters. AFA(alcohol-formalin-acetic acid) then it [12,13] used to confirm the parasite mounted in glycerol-gelatin for Permanente identification, whereas, [14] used to identify slides. The haptor and the copulatory organs the fish species were studied by using compound microscope 3.Results During the survey of the parasitic fauna long, Dorsal anchor 0.053-0.057 long with of Triacanthus biaculeatus 22 specimens of two subequal roots,Ventral anchor 0.043- the monogenetic trematods (Diplectanum 0.048 long with unequal roots. sp.) were collected from the gill filaments of Head subconical,0.071-0.088 wide, with four fish hosts(prevalence:66.6%, mean several pairs of head organsalong sloping intensity:5.5). and the following description sides. Two pairs of eye spots are present at is based on 18 specimens. the cephalic region.Pharynx The body of the worm elongated 0.757- muscular,pyriform,0.040-0.043x0.034- 0.873 length, up to 0.144-0.218 wide in 0.041; Cecasimple, ending blindlyat posterior region of middle third( Fig.1- end of the body. A).Opisthohaptor (Fig.1- B) 0.160-0.187 Testis elliptical, 0.077-0.098 x 0.038- wide , Squamodisc rounded,0.041-0.059 in 0.065, located at the equatorial level. Cirrus diameter, with five-seven pairs of complete poach consisting of a very minute narrow circles of minute trapezoid scales, Median spicule is enclosed in cylindrical sheath of bar strongly constricted at mid region, longitudinal fibers. Prostatic cells located on 0.053-0.071 long, The two submedian bars each side of uterus as massed cells; Vas enlarged in their medial ends, 0.044-0.054 deferens located posteriorly to cirrus poach. 49 Mohamad & Razak :Diplectanid parasite from the gills of the triacanthid fish (Triacanthus biaculeatus) captured… Fig . 1 –Diplectanum sp. A- Whole amount ( dorsal view ) , B- Opisthohaptor (dorsal view). Ovary with retort shape,0.020-0.029 extensive with intestine and confluent in wide, located immediately anteriodextral to post-testicular region.Genital pore located the testis.Uterus curved.Vitellaria co- shortly postbifurcation of the caeca . 4. Discussion [8] established the genus Diplectanum for For the recent records of the diplectanid the first time when he transferred parasites in the world we can refer to the Dactylogyrus aequans Wagener,1857 to the results of [15,16,17,18,19, 20]. genus Diplectanum and he considered Only one study was done by [11] Diplectanumaequans as the type species. conducted with the diplectanid parasites [10] mentioned that the genus infecting the gills of the marine fish Diplectanum is restricted to the species Johnius(J.)sina in Khor Al-Zubair Estuary, which have, i - male copulatory organ having in this study unidentified species was nested tubes, ii - accessory copulatory organ, described for the first time in the Arabian iii - prostatic reservoir separated into three Gulf water. zones and iv- having ventral and dorsal The present species closely resembles squamodiscs. D. curvivagina in the shape of the squamodisc but the later species having curved cirrus pouch and distinctly enlarged 4050 Journal of Basrah Researches ((Sciences)) Volume 37. Number 5.((2011)) toward the distal end. Also, the present simple tubular vagina. So, the present record species differs from the most related species of this parasite is considered as its first by owing sheathed specular cirrus pouch and record in the Arabian Gulf water. 5. References [1] Oliver,G. (1982) Quelques aspects de la Platyhelminthes (pp.92-102).The spécifiticité parasitaire chez syst. Assoc. Special Volume les Diplectanidae Bychowsky, Series 60.353 pp. 1957 (Monogenea, [7]Wagener,I(1857)Helminthologische Monopisthocotylea). Bull. Mus. Bemerkungenauseinem Natn. Hist. Nat. Paris ,sér. A Sandsschreibean C. Th. V. (Zool.) 123 :295-301. Siebold. Zeit.Wiss. Zool. 9 :73- [2] Oliver,G. (1993) Les 90. DiplectanidaeBychowsky, 1957 [8]Diesing,K.M.(1858).Rivisian der (Monogenea, Monopisthocotylea, Myzhelminthen, Dactylogyridea) marqueurs Abteilund:Trematoden.Sitz.- biologiques, ttemoins de la ber.K.Akad.Wiss.Wein Math.- biogeographie et de l'evolution de Naturw.K.,32(23):307-390(Cited leurshotes. Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr. by Yamaguti, 1963). 118 (1): 25-36. [9]Domingues, M. (2004) [Phylogeny and [3] Kritsky,D.C. and Thatcher,V.E. Taxonomy of (1984) NeotropicalMonogenea. DiplectanidaeMonticelli, 1903 6. Five new species of (Platyhelminthes: Diplectanum (Diplectanidae) Monogenoidea)]. Curitiba : from freshwater Doctoral Dissertation. Graduate TeleostesPlagioscion spp. Program in Zoology, (Scieanidae), in Brazil . Proc. Universidade Federal do Paraná, Biol. Soc. Wash. 97 (2):425-439. 199 pp. (In Portuguese). [4]Nasir,S.(1984) Occurrence and [10]Domingues,M. and Boeger,W.A. significance of the (2008). Phylogeny and Revision monogeneanCycloplectanumame of DiplectanidaeMonticelli, 1903 ricanum (Price, 1937) Oliver, (Platyhelminthes: 1968, on a freshwater host. J. Monogenoidea). Zootaxa 1698: Parasitol. 69 (5):957-962. 1-40.. [5]Oliver,G. (1987) Les DiplectanidaeBychowsky 1957 [11]Al-Daraji,S.A.M.(1995). Taxonomical (Monogenea, Monopisthocotylea, and ecological studies on the Dactylogyridea). metazoan parasites of some Systématique.Biologie.Ontogénie marine fishes of Khor Al-Zubair .Écologie.Essai de Estuary,northwest of the Arabian phylogénèse.Thèse Gulf. Ph.D. Thesis, University of d'état.Université des Sciences et Basrah, 182 pp. Techniques du Languedoc. 433 [12]Yamaguti,S. (1963). pp. SystemaHelmithum IV. [6]Boeger,W.A. and Kritsky,D.C. (2001) Monogenea and Aspidocotylea . Interrelationships of the London - New York ,Interscience Monogenoidea:. In: .Litllewood, Publishers.699 pp. D.T.J e R.A. Bray (Eds). [13]Yamaguti,S.(1968). Monogenetic Interrelationships of51 trematodes of Hawaian fishes. 41 Mohamad & Razak :Diplectanid parasite from the gills of the triacanthid fish (Triacanthus biaculeatus) captured… University of Hawaii Press, NeotropicalMonogenoidea. 49. Honolulu:287 pp. Four new species of the [14]Kuronuma,K. and Abe,Y. (1986). Diplectanidae(Dactylogyridea) Fishes of the Arabian from the gills of some Gulf.Kuw.Inst.Sci.Res., 357 pp. pachyurines ( Teleostei : [15]Justine,J.-L. (2001). Sciaenidae) from the Rio Diplectanumparvussp. nov.( Tacantins and Rio DoceBasine Monogenea , Diplectanidae) from with the proposal of Cephalopholisurodeta ( Anoplectanum n.g. and Perciformes, Serranidae) of New Spinomatrix n.g. Syst. Caledonia.Acta Parasitol., Vol. Parasitol., 64:57-68. 53,No.2, p: 127-132. [19] Aguirre-Macedo,M.L.;Vidal- . Martinez,V.;Gonzalez-Solis,D. [16]Santos,C.P.;Timi,J.T.andGibson,D.I.(