1Aquatic Environment and Health Management Division, ICAR Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai-400 061, India
2Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Chakgaria, Kolkata-700 094, West Bengal, India
3College of Fisheries Nautical Technology, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalitha Fisheries University, Fishing Harbour Campus, Thoothukudi-1, India
*Corresponding Author: Vijay Sundar Deva G, Aquatic Environment and Health Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai-400 061, India, Email: vijaydeva9194@gmail.com
Online published on 27 August, 2020.
The morphometric and molecular characterization of Thelohanellus catlae a new myxozoan belonging to genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) infecting the gills of Catla catla were described in this study. The infection was observed as irregular, milky whitish, cyst-like plasmodia (up to 2.0–3.0 mm in diameter) attached to the gill filaments of the host fish. Each spore has a single pyriform polar capsule. Spores measured about 20.4±0.69 (19.3–21.4) × μm long and 11.5± 0.63 (10.7–12.4) μm wide. The polar capsule was 12.3±0.70 (10.7- 13.9) μm long and 10.95± 0.28 (9.7–12.9) μm wide. Sequencing of 18S rRNA gene of the new myxozoan revealed 98% sequence homology between the 18S rRNA gene of T.catlae. Phylogenetic analysis showed T. catlae within the clade of gill infecting myxosporeans and closed together with T. catlae. The importance of myxosporeans introduction to new locations along with infected cultured host is emphasized.
Catla catla, Morphometric and molecular identification, Thelohanellus catlae
