Mxyobolus vascularis N. Sp. (cnidaria: myxozoa: myxosporea), a New Parasite Infecting Fingerlings of Indian Major Carps in Aquaculture in Punjab, India

During the present study, a new myxosporean parasite, Myxobolus vascularis n. sp. has been described from the gill lamellae of fingerlings of Cirrhinus mrigala Hamilton vern. mrigal collected from polyculture nursery ponds located in village Fagan majra, District Fategarh Sahib, Punjab (India). The length and age of the fish host was 4.5cm and 1–2 months respectively. According to the size, the plasmodia were of two types: Type B were small sized, rounded, 0.5mm in diameter and Type C were highly elongated, large sized, 3x0.7mm seen as white pustules on the gill lamellae. The myxospores were pyriform in shape and measured 10.73x 4.88μm. Polar capsules were equal, elongately pyriform, measured 6.51x 1.80μm, with 8–9 polar filament coils arranged perpendicular to the polar axis. The gill plasmodium index was recorded to be 3 indicated heavy infection. Histopathological evaluation of the infection recorded dilation and total obstruction of the gill lamella and showed necrosis, hypertrophy, hyperplasia and lifting of the epithelial cells.