Host-parasite relationships: Mothocya plagulophora parasitizing Hemiramphus far in the Southeast coast of India

First record of Mothocya renardi and Mothocya collettei (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from northern part of East Coast of India and new host record of Mothocya collettei

The present record of different developmental stages of the parasite Mothocya renardi (Bleeker, 1857) and gravid female of Mothocya collettei Bruce, 1986 from different individuals of same host Strongylura leiura (Bleeker, 1850) collected from Bay of Bengal, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha, India are the first record of these parasites from the northern part of east coast of India. The record of Mothocya collettei from the host Strongylura leiura is the first host record for this parasite.

Prevalence of cymothoid isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda) and proximate analysis of parasites and their host fishes, Southeastern India

Cymothoid isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda) are considered as potential threat to the health of different fish species. In order to evaluate the prevalence and proximate analysis of Cymothoid isopods and its host, an investigation was carried out fish species belonging to families Hemiramphidae and Belonidae in the Palk Bay region, Southeastern India. A total of 1265 individuals of teleost fish belonging to family Hemiramphidae species, Hemiramphus far (462), H. archipelagicus (78), and H. lutkie (277) and another family Belonidae species, Tylosurus crocodilus (448), were examined for cymothoid ectoparasitic infestation. Prevalence in H. far was the highest (39%) for the cymothoid Mothocys plagulophora, while T. crocodilus was most infested (13%) with Mothocys renardi, H. far and H. lutkie were not infested by M. renardi while T. crocodilus was not infested by M. plagulophora. Proximate analysis showed reduced level of protein in parasite infested fish compared with non-infested individuals. However, carbohydrate and lipid concentrations were lower in infested fish than non-infested individuals. Proximate analysis values in the two parasites of Mothocys species were similar, and these values were comparable to those unaffected fish species indicating that parasites were well nourished. The proximate analysis of isopod parasite M. plagulophora showed 21.6 ± 7.7, 1.26 ± 0.05, 5.49 ± 1.06% of protein, carbohydrate and lipid respectively, and in M. renardi, 21.09 ± 6.6, 1.32 ± 0.12, 5.83 ± 0.72% of protein, carbohydrate and lipid respectively. Cadmium levels were similar between affected and non-affected fish individuals and among species. The Pb levels were comparable among all T. crocodilus individuals, but the levels of Cd not showed much variation between affected and unaffected individuals in all four fish species.

New potential host for Ryukyua globosa (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoidae) from Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India

In the present study Ryukyua globosa parasitic isopod on the marine fishes of the Parangipettai coast are reported. R. globosa was found attached in the gill chamber of Sardinella gibbosa. The attachment position of Ryukyua species differs from that of other member of this genus. Until now, R. globosa was only reported on Amblygaster sirm and A.leiogaster. S.gibbosa is a new host record for R.globosa. R. globosa, branchial parasites, already known from Japan and is now recorded from the Southeast coast of India.