Abstract
Background:
Acanthocephalans are fish parasites of worldwide distribution, penetrate their thorny proboscis into the intestinal wall of host and absorb nutrients. No diagnostic tool is available except postmortem investigations and identification by parasitologists. The aim of present study was to explore and assign taxonomical status to Pallisentis species prevalent in food fishes of river Gomti, Lucknow, India.
Methods:
A survey of fishes of river Gomti was carried out during the year 2011–2013. Acanthocephalans recovered from the intestine of Channa punctatus were kept in refrigerator for eversion of proboscis, fixed in A.F.A. fixative (50% alcohol, formalin and acetic acid in ratio of 100: 6: 2.5) for 24 hours further preserved in 70% ethanol. Camera Lucida diagrams of acetoalum carmine stained permanent mounts were made for morphometric studies.
Results:
Two new species of genus Pallisentis were identified and named as P. channai n. sp. and P. vinodai n. sp., their taxonomical status is based on major characters of proboscis hooks, spines of collar and trunk region, cement gland nuclei. On average 9 fishes were found infected with Pallisentis spp. out of 60 fishes examined randomly.
Conclusion:
Pallisentis spp. are important parasitic infection in Channidae fishes with the prevalence rate of 15%. Two new species of Pallisentis recognized from Channa punctatus of river Gomti, Lucknow, India and diagnostic features of genus are given.
Keywords: Acanthocephalan, Intestinal parasite, Freshwater, Channa punctatus, Pallisentis, India
Introduction
Acanthocephalans are intestinal parasites of fishes, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals. When a large number of parasites are found, cause occulation of the lumen of stomach and intestine, and even death of the fish host (1). Fishes infested with high intensity of Acanthocephalans deeply penetrating into their intestinal wall without showing pronounced symptoms of infection and its complications (2). At present limited knowledge is available about the acanthocephalans of fresh water fishes of the world. Earlier, H.J. Van Cleave created the genus Pallisentis with P. umbellatus as its type species from a fresh water fish from China (3). Accordingly, at present genus Pallisentis consists of the following known species viz., P. allahabadii (4), P. basiri (5), P. buckleyi (6), P. clupei (7), P. colisai (8), P. guntei (9), P. guptai, P. mehrai (10), P. ophiocephali (11, 12), P. nagpurensis (13), P. nandai (14), P. pandei (15), P. fotedari (16), P. jagani (17), P. garuai (18, 19), P. gomtii, P. fasciati, P. cavasii (20), P. croftoni, P. indica (21), P. vancleavei (22) from freshwater and marine fishes of India. The genus Pallisentis was grouped under class Eoacanthocephala (23), order Gyracanthocephala (24), family Quadrigyridae (25) and subfamily Pallisentinae (26).
A survey the fresh water food fishes of river Gomti (Lucknow, India), infected with acanthocephalan parasites was carried out. During our study, we have found that Acanthocephalans are injurious group of parasites frequently found in the gut of freshwater Channidae fishes. In this paper, we have described two new species of genus Pallisentis recovered from the intestine of Channa punctatus (27).
Materials and Methods
Parasite collection
A survey of Channidae fishes of River Gomti at Lucknow region was carried out during the year 2011–2013. Fishes were captured from Kudiya Ghat and Nishatganj Pul, Lucknow with the help of local fishermen. Fishes were dissected and Acanthocephalan parasites were recovered from alimentary canal under stereoscopic dissecting microscope. On average 9 Channa punctatus fishes were found infected with Pallisentis out of 60 fishes examined randomly with the prevalence rate of 15%. Collected parasites were thoroughly washed with saline and kept in refrigerator for 5 minutes to facilitate complete eversion of the proboscis. Further, parasites kept over glass slides were flattened under slight pressure of cover glass, fixed in A.F.A. fixative (50% alcohol, formalin and acetic acid in ratio of 100: 6: 2.5) and after 24 hours preserved in glycerified 70% alcohol.
Morphometric study
Diagrams of permanent acetoalum carmine stained D.P.X. mounts were prepared under Camera Lucida. For correct count of Hooks and spines, parasites were observed under Phase Contrast Microscope (Olympus BX 51, Japan) and photographs were taken with camera-attached microscope (Nikon E200, Japan). Measurements of parasites were taken with the help of calibrated ocular micrometer. Voucher specimens kept in Depository of Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow. Assigned taxonomical status of acanthocephalan parasites is based on number and arrangement of proboscis hooks, spines of collar region, spines of trunk and number of cement gland nuclei. Taxonomical part of work was done with the help of “Handbook on Indian Acanthocephala” (28) and “Systema Helminthum Vol V Acanthocephala” (29) and other literature specified in this paper.
Results
Two new species of Pallisentis have been identified and described as follows:
Taxonomic summary
Host: Fresh water fish Channa punctatus; Location: Intestine; Locality: Kudiya Ghat, Lucknow (26°52′29.3″N 80°54′41.9″E); Prevalence: 20 Specimens from 04 hosts out of 25 examined; Accession No.: UGC/2011–2012/06. Description is based on Male specimens.
Description
Body 4.14mm long, 0.35mm wide. Proboscis large, globular, 0.18mm long, 0.21mm wide, armed with 4 circles of 10 fine recurved hooks, similar in shape but different in size. Hooks of first circle stouter and largest 0.16mm long and of basal row smallest 0.05mm long. Each hook consists of a recurved blade, a horizontally directed root, handle sunk in proboscis wall and posteriorly directed guard also embedded in proboscis wall. Neck longer, 0.26mm long. Proboscis receptacle sac like, single layered, 0.39mm long and 0.10mm wide. Lemnisci tubular, equal, longer than proboscis receptacle, Both Lemniscus are 0.42mm long and 0.03mm wide. Body consists of collar and trunk spines. Collar spines arranged in 16 transverse circles, each with 16 spines. Collar spines 0.03mm in size. Distance between non-spiny area situated between collar spine and a trunk spine is 0.11mm. Trunk spines start after a short non-spiny area having 21 circlets, each with 14–18 spines. Trunk spines 0.03mm in size.
Anterior testis 0.36 mm long, 0.15 mm wide. Posterior testis 0.32 mm long, 0.15 mm wide. Seminal vesicle 0.36mm long, 0.07 mm wide. Cement gland single, syncytial, cylindrical mass with 18 nuclei lying just behind testes, 0.34mm long, 0.14mm wide. Cement reservoir 0.28mm long, 0.11mm wide. From each testis a vas deferens runs down in close association with cement gland, cement reservoir, and joins bursa. Saefftigen’s pouch elongated sac, 0.22mm long, 0.06mm wide, opening by a narrow tubular duct, which runs down in to bursa, where duct of cement reservoir open into it.
Fig. 1:
Pallisentis channai n. sp.; 1.1 entire view of Male; 1.2 enlarged view of proboscis
Remarks
The present form is referred to the genus Pallisentis and differs from all the above mentioned forms except P. allahabadii, P. buckleyi, P. colisai, P. guntei, P. mehrai, P. nagpurensis, P. pandei, P. fotedari in having proboscis armed with 4 circles of hooks, each with 10 hooks. It further differs from all known species except P. allahabadii, P. buckleyi, P. colisai, P. pandei in having collar spines arranged in 16 closely set rings, each with 16 hooks.
It differs from all known species except P. allahabadii, P. mehrai, P. pandei, P. jagani in having trunk spines arranged in 21 circlets, each with 14–18 spines. It further differs from all known species of genus Pallisentis in having Cement gland synctial with strictly 18 nuclei.
All these differences are sufficient to create a new species with specific name P. channai n. sp. The new species is named on its host.
Taxonomic summary
Host: Fresh water fish Channa punctatus; Location: Intestine; Locality: Nishatganj Pul, Lucknow (26°51′46.8″N 80°57′21.8″E); Prevalence: 16 Specimens from 05 hosts out of 35 examined; Accession No.: UGC/2011-2012/07. Description is based on Male specimens.
Description
Body 4.15mm long, 0.38mm wide. Proboscis subglobular, 0.15mm long, 0.17mm wide, armed with 4 circles of 8 recurved hooks, similar in shape but different in size. Hooks of first circle stouter and largest, 0.110mm long and of basal row smallest 0.03mm long. Each hook consists of a recurved blade, a horizontally directed root, handle sunk in proboscis wall and posteriorly directed guard also embedded in proboscis wall. Neck longer 0.31mm long, 0.15mm wide. Proboscis receptacle sac like, single layered, 0.54mm long, 0.10mm wide. Lemnisci small, cylindrical, unequal, longer than proboscis receptacle, first one is 0.62mm long, 0.04mm wide and other one is 0.50mm long, 0.04mm wide.
Body spination consists of collar and trunk spines. Collar spines arranged in 14 transverse circles each with 16 spines. Collar spines were 0.03 mm in size. Distance between non-spiny area situated between collar spine and a trunk spine is 0.14mm. Trunk spines start after a short non-spiny area having 27 circlets each with 16–18 spines. Trunk spines were 0.040mm in size.
Anterior testis 0.49mm long, 0.18mm wide. Posterior testis 0.47mm long, 0.19mm wide. Seminal vesicle 0.41mm long, 0.12mm wide. Cement gland single, syncytial, cylindrical mass with 8 nuclei lying just behind testes, Cement gland 0.52mm long, 0.19mm wide. Cement reservoir 0.42mm long, 0.14mm wide. From each testis a vas deferens runs down in close association with cement gland, cement reservoir, and joins bursa. Saefftigen’s pouch elongated sac, 0.18mm long, 0.05mm wide, open by a narrow tubular duct which runs down in to bursa, where duct of cement reservoir open into it.
Fig. 2:
Pallisentis vinodai n. sp.; 2.1 entire view of Male; 2.2 enlarged view of proboscis
Remarks
The present form is referred to the genus Pallisentis and differs from all the above-mentioned forms except P. clupei, P. guntei, P. guptai, P. ophiocephali, P. nagpurensis in having proboscis armed with 4 circles of hooks, each with 8 hooks. It further differs from all known species except P. guptai, P. nagpurensis, P. pandei, P. garuai, P. vancleavei in having collar spines arranged in 14 closely set rings, each with 16 hooks.
It differs from all known species except P. buckleyi, P. pandei, P. vancleavei in having trunk spines arranged in 27 circlets, each with 16–18 spines. It further differs from all known species of genus Pallisentis except P. colisai, P. pandei in having Cement gland synctial with strictly 8 nuclei.
All these differences are sufficient to create a new species with specific name P. vinodai n. sp.The new species is named in honour of Retd. Prof. Vinoda Gupta, Helminthologist, Deptt. of Zoology, University of Lucknow for her significant contribution in taxonomy of Acanthocephala.
Discussion
In view of present study we have proposed following diagnostic key Characters of genus Pallisentis Van Cleave, 1928 (Synonyms Neosentis Van Cleave, 1928; Farzandia Thapar, 1931; Saccosentis Tadross, 1966; Devendrosentis Sahay et al., 1971). Trunk with a collar of spines arranged in 6–16 closely set rings near anterior extremity. Posterior to this an unspined zone is followed by 20–40 widely spaced rings of spines, remaining part devoid of spines. Proboscis short, cylindrical to globular, with 4 circles of 6–10 hooks each. Proboscis receptacle cylindrical to saccate, with single layered muscular walls reaching to second spinose region when proboscis is introverted; ganglion near base of proboscis receptacle. Lemnisci long, slender, cylindrical. Testes oval to cylindrical, contiguous. Cement gland long, cylindrical, syncytial, containing a number of nuclei. Usually parasites of fresh water fishes, occasionally found in marine fishes.
Conclusion
In this study, we have found Pallisentis spp. as injurious parasites of freshwater Channidae fishes with the prevalence rate of 15%. Two new species of acanthocephalan parasites namely, Pallisentis channai n. sp. and Pallisentis vinodai n. sp. have been identified and established from fish Channa punctatus of river Gomti, Lucknow, India.
Acknowledgements
This study was financially supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India: Project No: 39–586/2010(SR). The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.
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