Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Parasitic Diseases: Official Organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology logoLink to Journal of Parasitic Diseases: Official Organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
. 2014 Apr 18;40(1):124–128. doi: 10.1007/s12639-014-0460-4

Distribution of isopod parasites in Carangid fishes from Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India

Ganapathy Rameshkumar 1,✉, Samuthirapandian Ravichandran 2, Mathan Ramesh 1
PMCID: PMC4815843  PMID: 27065610

Abstract

Crustacean parasites absorb their nourishment directly from hosts for feeding. The present study was aimed at collecting information as possible on this so far neglected group of isopod parasites of the Carangid fishes of Parangipettai coastal environment. A very little information is available regarding the isopod parasites of Carangid fishes. In the present study six species of isopods belonging to 3 genera were found on four species of fishes. The distribution of Catoessa boscii is found throughout the year.

Keywords: Distribution, Isopod, Carangid fishes, Parangipettai

Introduction

Isopods occur very commonly as parasites in food fishes. Isopod parasites are usually large and fierce looking and the damage they cause to the host fishes is considerable (Overstreet 1978). Rokicki (1985) studied the specificity of isopod parasites, zoogeography and the vertical distribution of isopod parasites in host systems in the north-west African shelf. Host specificity is the tendency of a parasite to occur on one or a few host species and is a product of co-existence between both parasite and host lineages (Poulin 2007).

According to Trilles (1986), 46 species of Cymothoidae have been reported in Africa (12 Anilocrinae and 34 Cymothoidae). Horton and Okamura (2002) reported distribution of the recently discovered association of the parasitic isopod Ceratothoa steindachneri (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) with the lesser weever fish (Echiichthys vipera). Anilocra frontalis which feed mainly on blood (Trilles et al. 1989; Bragoni et al. 1984) are frequent on different fish species.

The Indian cymothoid fauna is relatively poorly known and until now studies on these parasitic isopods were scanty on marine fishes from the Indian coasts (Pillai 1954, 1964; Rameshkumar and Ravichandran 2010; Rameshkumar et al. 2011, 2012, 2013). Those cymothoids which live on the surface of the fish, however, would seem to be less specific in their environmental requirements and to thus occur in various positions. Certainly such an assumption accounts for the paucity of information on the positioning of these forms; most authors generalise by locating the parasites with reference to the major sub-divisions of the body e.g. the head or trunk. A few related works are available on the nature of infestation of isopods parasites in fishes (Williams and Williams 1994; Cuyas et al. 2004). But no specific studies on the distribution of isopod parasites in Carangid fishes were done. Hence an attempt has been made to study the distribution of the isopod parasites in Carangid fishes.

Materials and methods

The study was based on one year observations during December 2012 to November 2013. Fishes were collected directly from the trawlers landed at Parangipettai coast. Isopods were removed from the body surface and the buccal cavities of the fish hosts and immediately placed into 70 % ethanol. Mouthparts and appendages were carefully dissected using dissecting needles and forceps. Fish samples were examined thoroughly for the presence of isopod parasites. Host nomenclature and fish taxonomy are according to Fish Base (Froese and Pauly 2013). The host species and site of attachment of parasites were noted. The parasites were identified according to Brünnich (1783), Milne Edwards (1840), Bleeker (1857) and Bovallius (1887).

Results

During the present study six species including three genera (Catoessa, Cymothoa and Nerocila) of isopods belonging to the family Cymothoidae infesting four species of Carangid fishes along the Parangipettai coast were studied (Table 1). Two species were found to penetrate on the body surface of the hosts and another two were collected from the buccal cavity while two was noted on the fins (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7).

Table 1.

Cymothoid isopods collected from carangid fishes

Species Number of parasites Host Capture
Nerocila phaeopleura 19 Carangoides sp. Trawlers
Nerocila depressa 12 Selaroides leptolepis and C. malabaricus Trawlers
Nerocila sundaica 7 C. malabaricus Trawlers
Nerocila loveni 5 C. malabaricus Trawlers
Cymothoa eremita 8 Parastromateus niger Trawlers
Catoessa boscii 243 C. malabaricus Trawlers
Open in a new tab

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Open in a new tab

N. sundaica on C. malabaricus

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Open in a new tab

N. depressa on C. malabaricus

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

Open in a new tab

N. loveni on C. malabaricus

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

Open in a new tab

N. depressa on S. leptolepis

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5

Open in a new tab

N. phaeopleura on Carangoides sp.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6

Open in a new tab

C. boscii in C. malabaricus

Fig. 7.

Fig. 7

Open in a new tab

C. eremita on P. niger

Distribution of isopod parasites

A total of 294 specimens of isopods represented by six species belonging to 3 genera were found on four species of fishes (Table 1). Of these nineteen, Nerocila phaeopleura was found on Carangoides sp. and one on each of the fishes. Of the twelve N. depressa were found on the left and right side of the body surface of the two fishes Selaroides leptolepis and C. malabaricus and seven parasites of the N. sundaica and five parasites of N. loveni were found on the body surface and fin regions of C. malabaricus, eight parasites of C. eremita were found in the buccal cavity and mouth region of Parastromateus niger. Maximum number of 243 parasites of Catoessa boscii was distributed in the buccal cavity of C. malabaricus (Fig. 8). The 4 different parasites belonging to the genus Catoessa and Nerocila were recorded (C. boscii, N. depressa, N. loveni and N. sundaica) from C. malabaricus.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 8

Open in a new tab

Distribution of cymothoid isopods from carangid fishes

Mode of attachment of parasitic isopods

Catoessa boscii and C. eremita invading the buccal cavity of C. malabaricus and Parastromateus niger respectively. The parasites are normally seen protruding through the mouth opening of the host. Many cymothoids occur in the mouth and buccal cavity of the host fish and their position is thus highly specific. The parasite was attached in such a way that the broader posterior part of the parasite was lodged in the wider portion of the floor of the buccal cavity and the narrow anterior part was either located towards the mouth opening or protruding out through the mouth. In some fish, two C. boscii parasites was normally found, of which one was the large ovigerous female found in mouth and the other one small and more active male observed in the buccal cavity. Most of the females of these species attach right-side up on the tongue of fishes. Only two parasites specifically attach up-side-down on the roof of the mouth of fishes. During the study period C. boscii was recorded through out the year.

Species belonging to the genus Nerocila are generally found as external parasites on fishes. N. phaeopleura invading on the body surface of Carangoides sp. N. depressa attached on the body surface of S. leptolepis and N. depressa, N. sundaica and N. loveni has been found at different areas of body, including the upper pectoral fin, between pectoral and pelvic fin, the upper pelvic fin, between pelvic and anal fin, the upper anal fin, under the dorsal fin and the caudal peduncle (Table 2) of C. malabaricus. They were found attached to the host by hook-like projections mandibles and first maxillae and first two thoracic legs. In all cases of the attached position, the body was directed towards the anterior end of the fish.

Table 2.

Microhabitats of isopod parasites in host fishes

Buccal parasites Body surface parasites
Catoessa boscii
Cymothoa eremita 		N. depressa
N. loveni
N. phaeopleura
N. sundaica
Open in a new tab

Discussion

Too little is known about isopods associated with fishes in the southern Caribbean to adequately discuss their zoogeography (Bunkley-Williams et al. 2006). In Kuwait Bowman and Tareen (1983) reported that nine species of Cymothoidae. Later Bruce and Harrison-Nelson (1988) recorded twenty-nine species from the genera Anilocra, Creniola, Nerocila, Pleopodias and Renocila are recorded or reported from the Indo-West Pacific. Fourteen species of cymothoids were reported from the eastern Pacific (Brusca 1981). Fourteen Cymothoidae have been reported from Algeria, the majority being widely distributed in the Mediterranean (Ramdane et al. 2007). Nine new species of Anilocra were reported from the West Indian coral reef fishes (Bunkley Williams and Williams 1981). In India seven species of cymothoid isopods parasitic on the marine fishes of the Kerala coast were reported (Pillai 1964). Veerappan et al. (1999) reported that seven species of isopod parasites from marine food fishes of Parangipettai. However, it seems to also occur in some fish-parasitic isopods C. boscii, C. eremita, N. sundaica, N. loveni, N. depressa and N. phaeopleura have a widely distributed in the Carangid fishes of Parangipettai coastal waters.

Isopods of broad specificity are characterized by a distribution of potentially wider range than species of narrow specificity. Bowman (1960) reported the narrow host specificity of Lironeca puhi, as the parasite is a common one of Gymnothorax eurostus in the Hawaiian island. Williams and Williams (1982) reported that Anilocra chromis prefer the host fish Chromismultilineatus. Rokicki (1985) stated that the distribution of C. plebia is limited to the environment of one host species Brachydeuterus auritus and considered the parasite as phylogenetically order. In this study revealed that C. eremita, C. boscii, N. loveni, N. sundaica and N. phaeopleura have narrow host specificity. Veerappan et al. (1999) reported that Joryma sp, J. brachysoma,Agarna engraulidis, Glossobius sp., C. indica and Ryukyua circularis have narrow host specificity. Hence the present study shows only a narrow host specificity, when a complex of host species is restricted.

Trilles (1964) distinguished ecologic and neogenic specificity of Cymothoidae in the Mediterranean Sea. Ecologic specificity has a broad range, this being connected with feeding behaviour of the host and possibility of infestation in natural conditions. The host fishes may form shoals and may live in homologous biotopes at least for a part of year, so that they mix partly. Migration of fishes may influence and enhance broad host range. Broad host specificity especially in pelagic fishes may be due to the reason that the fishes would produce numerous actively swimming levels and this enables the infestation of wide range of hosts (Rokicki 1985). Within the present study observed N. depressa had broad host specificity, when the hosts are represented by a variety of species viz., C. malabaricus and S. leptolepis. The specificity can be discussed only as a result of interaction between ecological, physiological and phylogenetic factors, and cannot as an independent property of some genera.

Trilles (1964) significantly showed that a number of cymothoids, including N. orbignyi and N. bivittata are specific in their choice of hosts, whereas other genera are less specific. The results of this investigation indicate that N. phaeopleura, although comparatively primitive in being an external parasite and being highly host specific is also highly specialized to a mode of life upon a pelagic, fast swimming host. It lives on a highly specific region of the body. This position is determined by the needs of the parasite and the limitations exerted by the morphology and habits of the host. In the present study specificity was observed in the host of 4 species of Nerocila species collected, than other genera of Cymothoa and Catoessa.

Panikkar and Aiyar (1937) recorded C. indica on Etroplus maculatus, E. suratensis and Glossogobius giuris from the Adyar estuary. Evangeline (1963) reported the occurrence of this parasite, in the Adyar fish farm, from a variety of host’s, viz., E. suratensis, Tilapia mossambica, Macrones gulio, Gobius giuris, Polynemus tetradactylus, Pomadasys hasta and Sphyraena obtusata. It is thus evident that C. indica exhibits a wide geographic and host distribution. The findings of the present study also supports with earlier works. Jayadev Babu and Sanjeeva Raj (1984) noticed infestation in several regions like the chin, nape and pectoral fin base and the buccal cavity. The damage of gill filaments thus was not only due to feeding but also by the pressure exerted by the dorsal side of the parasite. In the present study also C. boscii, N. depressa, N. loveni and N. sundaica from C. malabaricus and C. boscii and C. eremita invading the buccal cavity of Parastromateus niger and C. malabaricus respectively and N. depressa attached on the body surface of S. leptolepis. The parasite C. boscii was mostly collected through out the 1 year December 2012 to November 2013 compared to other species. C. boscii was attached and damage only in the buccal region of C. malabaricus.

The site of attachment of C. boscii in C. malabaricus the brush like pads on the roof of the buccal cavity, renders much protection to the parasite. The threat of being washed into oesophagus with the incoming water current, which parasites of the buccal cavity have overcome by resorting to firm attachment to the host tissue. C. boscii, although comparatively primitive in being a buccal parasite and being highly host specific is also highly specialised to a mode of life upon a pelagic, fast swimming host. It lives on a highly specific region of the body. This position is determined by the needs of the parasite and the limitations exerted by the morphology and habits of the host. Although, the infestation did not cause immediate death, it had affected the normal growth of the host fish.

Acknowledgments

Author (G.Rameshkumar) are thankful to UGC, New Delhi for the grant of Dr. D. S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship No. F.4-2/2006 (BSR)/13-1011/2013(BSR) and The Head, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore for providing facilities and encouragement.

References

  1. Bleeker P (1857) Recherches sur les Crustacés de l’Inde Archipélagique. II. Sur les Isopodes Cymothoadiens de l’ Archipel Indien. Natuurkundige Vereeniging in Nederlandsche-Indie, Batavia, Verhandelingen, 2: 20–40, pls 1–2
  2. Bovallius C. New or imperfectly known Isopoda. Part III—Bihang till Kongelige svenska Vetenskapsakademiens. Handlingar. 1887;18(4):1–21. [Google Scholar]
  3. Bowman TE. Description and notes on the biology of Lironeca puhi n. sp. (Isopoda: Cymothoidae). Parasite of the Hawaiian moray eel, Gymnothoraxeurostus (Abbott) Crustaceana. 1960;1:82–91. doi: 10.1163/156854060X00131. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bowman TE, Tareen IU. Cymothoidae from fishes of Kuwait, ArabianGulf (Crustacea: Isopoda) Smith Contrib Zool. 1983;382:1–30. doi: 10.5479/si.00810282.382. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bragoni G, Romestand B, Trilles JP. Parasitoses à Cymothoadien chez le loup Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) en élevage. I. Ecologiesitaire dans le cas de l’étang de Diana (Haute-Corse) (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) Crustaceana. 1984;47(1):44–51. doi: 10.1163/156854084X00306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bruce NL, Harrison-Nelson B. New records of fish parasitic marine isopod crustaceans (Cymothoidae: Subfamily Anilocrinae) from the Indo-West Pacific. Proc Biol Soc Wash. 1988;101(3):585–602. [Google Scholar]
  7. Brünnich T (1783) Den barbugede Pampelfish (Coryphaena apus) en nye Art, og dens Giaest, Strukketrolden (Oniscus eremita) en Opdagelse af Dr. Konig paa Madrass. Nye Samling af det Kongelige Danske Videnskabersnes Selkabs Skrifter 2:319–325
  8. Brusca RC. A monograph on the isopods cymothoidae (Crustacea) of the Eastern Pacific. Zool J Linn Soc. 1981;73:117–199. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1981.tb01592.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  9. Bunkley Williams L, Williams EH., Jr Nine new species of Anilocra (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) external parasites of West Indian coral reef fishes. Proc Biol Soc Wash. 1981;94(4):1005–1047. [Google Scholar]
  10. Bunkley-Williams L, Williams EH, Jr, Bashirullah AKM. Isopods (Isopoda: Aegidae: Cymothoidae: Gnathiidae) associated with Venezuelan marine fishes (Elasmobranchii: Actinopterygii) Revis de Biol Trop. 2006;54:175–188. [Google Scholar]
  11. Cuyas C, Castro JJ, Santana Ortega AT, Carbonnel E. Insular stock identification of Serranus atricauda (Pisces: Serranidae) through the presence of Ceratothoa steindachneri (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) and Pentacapsula cutancea (Myoxoa: Pentacapsulidae) in the Canary Islands. Sci Mar Bare. 2004;68:159–163. [Google Scholar]
  12. Evangeline G. Occurrence of the isopod fish parasite Cymothoa indica, in the Adayar fish farm, Madras. Mad J Fish. 1963;1:7–10. [Google Scholar]
  13. Froese R, Pauly D. Fish stocks. In: Levin S, editor. Encyclopedia of biodiversity. Waltham: Academic Press/Elsevier; 2013. pp. 477–487. [Google Scholar]
  14. Horton T, Okamura B. The distribution of Ceratothoa steindachneri (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) parasitic in Echiichthys vipera in the North-East Atlantic. J Mar Biol Ass UK. 2002;82:415–417. doi: 10.1017/S0025315402005660. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  15. Jayadev Babu S, Sanjeeva Raj PJ. Isopod parasites of fish of Pulicat lake. Proc Symp Coast Aqu (Fin Fish) 1984;3:818–823. [Google Scholar]
  16. Milne Edwards HM. Histoire Naturelle des Crustacés comprenant l’anatomie, la physiologie et la classification de ces animaux III. Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret; 1840. [Google Scholar]
  17. Overstreet RM (1978) Marine maladies. Worms, germs and other Symbionts from the Northern Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
  18. Panikkar NK, Aiyar RG. On a cymothoan parasitic on some brackish water fishes from Madras. Curr Sci. 1937;5:429–430. [Google Scholar]
  19. Pillai NK. A preliminary note on the Tanaidacea and Isopoda of Travancore. Bull Cent Res Inst Univ Travancore. 1954;3:1–21. [Google Scholar]
  20. Pillai NK. Parasitic isopods of the family Cymothoidae from South Indian fishes. Parasitology. 1964;54:211–223. doi: 10.1017/S003118200006786X. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  21. Poulin R. Evolutionary ecology of parasites. London: Chapman and Hall; 2007. [Google Scholar]
  22. Ramdane Z, Bensouilah MA, Trilles JP. The Cymothoidae (Crustacea: Isopoda), parasites on marine fishes, from Algerian fauna. Belg J Zool. 2007;137(1):67–74. [Google Scholar]
  23. Rameshkumar G, Ravichandran S. New host record, Rastrelliger kanagurta, for Nerocila phaeopleura parasites (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) Mid-East J Sci Res. 2010;5(1):54–56. [Google Scholar]
  24. Rameshkumar G, Ravichandran S, Trilles JP. Cymothoidae: (Crustacea: Isopoda) from Indian fishes. Act Parasitol. 2011;56(1):78–91. doi: 10.1007/s00436-012-3263-5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Rameshkumar G, Ravichandran S, Trilles JP. Observation on an isopod parasitizing the edible fish Parastromateus niger in the Parangipettai coast of India. J Environ Biol. 2012;33(2):191–193. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Rameshkumar G, Ravichandran S, Sivasubramanian K, Trilles JP. New occurrence of parasitic isopods from Indian fishes. J Parasit Dis. 2013;37(1):42–46. doi: 10.1007/s12639-012-0128-x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Rokicki J. Biology of adult Isopoda (Crustacea) parasitizing fishes of Northern West Africa shelf. Acta Ichthyol Et Piscatorial. 1985;15(1):95–119. doi: 10.3750/AIP1985.15.1.06. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  28. Trilles JP. Specificite parasite chez les Isopodes Cymothoidae Mediterraneens. Note preliminnaire-Vie et Milieu. 1964;15:105–116. [Google Scholar]
  29. Trilles JP (1986) Les Cymothoidae (Crustacea, Isopoda, Flabellifera) D’Afrique. Bull Mus National Hist Nat 8(3):617–636
  30. Trilles JP, Radujkovic BM, Romestand B. Parasites des poissons Marins du Montenegro: Isopodes. Acta Adriat. 1989;30(1–2):279–306. [Google Scholar]
  31. Veerappan N, Perumal P, Ravichandran S (1999) Distribution and infestation of isopod parasites from marine food fishes of Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India. The Fourth Indian Fisheries Forum Proceedings pp 323–325
  32. Williams EH, Jr, Williams LB. Predisposition of a pomacentrid fish Chromismultilineatus (Guichenot) to parasitism by cymothoid isopod Anilocra chromis Williams. J Parasit. 1982;68(5):942–945. doi: 10.2307/3281010. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  33. Williams EH, Jr, Williams LB. Four cases of unusual crustacean-fish associations and comments on parasitic processes. J Aquat Anim Health. 1994;6:202–208. doi: 10.1577/1548-8667(1994)006<0202:FCOUCF>2.3.CO;2. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Parasitic Diseases: Official Organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology are provided here courtesy of Springer

RESOURCES