Buddhadeb Manna

Relative expression of antigen B coding gene of bubaline isolates of Echinococcus granulosus in fertile and sterile cysts

This article communicates the relative quantification of five isoforms of antigen B (AgB) of Echinococcus granulosus. Relative expression of the AgB was quantified in active and inactive cysts. Cysts with germinal membrane, clear cyst fluid and protoscoleces showed uniform expression of the five isoforms and were utilized as control. Relative expression of AgB1 was the highest in cysts, where calcification has initiated. AgB2 and AgB4 were expressed more in fertile cysts irrespective of the condition of germinal membrane. The lowest expression of AgB3 was seen in calcified cysts. The relative expression of AgB5 could not be correlated with respect to the condition of the cyst because AgB5 is typically expressed by the adult stage of the parasite.

Probstmayria bengalensis n.sp. (Cosmocercoidea: Atractidae) in captive Indian one horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) from Alipore Zoological Garden, Calcutta, West Bengal, India

Nematode specimens collected from the faeces of the Indian one horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in the Alipore Zoological Garden, Calcutta, India are diagnosed as a new species under genus Probstmayria and named as Probstmayria bengalensis n. sp. The new species is distinguished from the other valid species of the genus in the presence of 3 pairs of postanal papillae and unequal, similar spicules (42.9–49.5 μm for left and 26.4–29.7 μm for the right spicule), with a spicular ratio of 1:1.62–1.66 and a small gubernaculum (13.2–16.5 μm long), that bents towards dorsal surface.

Chromosome study of Isoparorchis hypselobagri Billet, 1898 (Digenea: Hemiuridae)

Chromosomal complements of an oocyte and a fertilized ovum from the ootype of Isoparorchis hypselobagri Billet, 1898 have been studied. Twenty diploid and 10 haploid chromosomes have been observed. In the karyotype the presence of five submetacentric, four acentric and a pair of sex chromosomes provide a significant cytotaxonomic information.

Djombangia mannai sp. n. (Cestoidea: Caryophyllidea: Lytocestidae) from a Siluroid Fish in West Bengal, India

The genus Djombangia Bovien, 1926 is a monotypic genus with only one valid species Djombangia penetrans Bovien, 1926 under it. In this paper Djombangia mannai sp.n. obtained from the intestine of a siluriform fresh water fish Clarias batrachus Linnaeus, 1758 from Diamond Harbour, South-24 Parganas, West Bengal, India is described and illustrated. The species is characterized by a small, globular scolex with spherical apical organ; body without transverse grooves; absence of neck; absence of seminal receptacle and 300–350 testes that differentiates it from the only known species under this genus.

Anonchotaenia adhiraji sp.n. (Platyhelminthes:Cestoidea) from a Bird Hypsipetes madagascarensis from Arunachal Pradesh, India

The genus Anonchotaenia Cohn, 1900 contains 23 valid species. In this paper Anonchotaenia adhiraji sp.n. obtained from the intestine of a bird Hypsipetes madagascarensis commonly known as black bulbul from Bomdila in Dirang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India is described and illustrated.The species is characterized by a large unarmed, square-shaped scolex; testes 7–8 in number arranged in two lateral groups and a voluminous paruterine organ that differentiates it from the rest of the described species in the genus. This is also the first report of the genus Anonchotaenia Cohn, 1900 from Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Spathebothrium vivekanandai sp.n. (Platyhelminthes: Cestoidea) from a Freshwater Fish Channa striatus from West Bengal, India

The monotypic genus Spathebothrium Linton, 1922 contains the only known species Spathebothrium simplex Linton, 1922. In this paper Spathebothrium vivekanandai sp.n. is described and illustrated. The specimen was obtained from the intestine of a freshwater fish Channa striatus which was collected from Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. The species is characterized by a small scolex, rounded anteriorly; presence of neck; genital pores irregularly or regularly alternate and U-shaped ovary. In addition to these characters, absence of vaginal sphincter and absence of seminal receptacle differentiates the present species from the earlier described one. The genus Spathebothrium Linton, 1922 is being reported for the first time from West Bengal, India.

Wenyonia sanyali sp.n. (Platyhelminthes: Cestoidea) from Chilloscyllium griseum (Bamboo Shark) in West Bengal, India

The genus Wenyonia Woodland, 1923 contains 7 valid species. In this paper Wenyonia sanyali sp.n. is described and illustrated from the intestine of Chilloscyllium griseum (bamboo shark) from West Bengal, India. The species is characterized by an undifferentiated scolex, without grooves, furrows and bothria; absence of neck and 14–40 testes in apical region that differentiates it from the rest of the described species in the genus.

Two New Species of Gangesia Woodland, 1924 (Platyhelminthes:Cestoidea) from Freshwater Fishes of West Bengal and Odhisa, India

The genus Gangesia Woodland, 1924 contains 8 valid species. Gangesia pashupatii sp.n. from the intestine of a freshwater fish Wallago attu from Canning, South 24-Parganas, West Bengal, India and Gangesia puriensis sp.n. from Ompok bimaculatus from Puri in Odhisa, India are described and illustrated. Gangesia pashupatii sp.n. is characterized by presence of a rostellum that bears 50 hooks in two alternate rows; each hook 0.078 long; neck absent; testes 100-160 in number; and a uterus with 20-23 lateral diverticulae on each side. Gangesia puriensis sp.n. is characterized by an oval to bulbous scolex; rostellar hooks 28-29 in number all alike arranged in a single row; suckers without spines; long neck; testes 200-250 in number; long cirrus sac and uterus with 15-16 lateral diverticulae on each side. The presence of these new morphological characters differentiates the two observed new species from the rest of the described valid species in the genus.

Determination of ETL for Major Pests in Betelvine

The plantation crop, Betel vine (Piper betle L.) is one of the most important cash crops in India. Major crop-loss (betel vine crop) occurs owing to the damage caused by white fly (Singhiella palled) and black fly (Aleurocanthus rugosa), and as such these are considered as the most harmful pests in respect of the damage caused by them. The quantum of damage is determined by calculating economic injury level (EIL) and economic threshold level (ETL). Knowledge of ETL helps to reduce crop loss (and ensures less pesticide application), and as a consequence, profit is increased. Also substantial knowledge is required on the dynamics of the pest population in order to determine the density at which the EIL may be prevented. This communication is devoted to the development of a method for determination of ETL in case of the plantation crop, betel vine. As the knowledge of ETL is Vital to the farmers, this article presents a systematic method to determine the ETL from a special type of experiment on betel vine designed for this purpose. The existing method of determination is based on economic parameters (Weersink et al. in Can J Agric Econ 39(4):619–625, 1991) which are subject to local, temporal and spatial variation. The developed method is divested of the above-mentioned variations and depends on the features of pest-infestation data solely.

Coomansinemoides wasimi n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) From West Bengal, India

Coomansinemoides wasimi n. gen., n. sp. was collected from the soil around the roots of guava. The new genus is characterized by moderate labial sclerotisation, double guiding ring, moderately narrow odontostyle with wide aperture, smaller expanded portion of pharynx, amphidelphic reproductive system, and dissimilar tail shape in female and male. Due to the moderate labial sclerotisation and the relatively anterior position of the second pair of pharyngeal gland nuclei, the new genus has been included in the subfamily Thornenematinae. It comes closest to the genus Coomansinema, distinctly differing in having very minute labial sclerotisation, smaller and narrower odontostyle with wider aperture, shorter odontophore, smaller expanded part of pharynx, the shape of cardia and also in having different female tail shape. Coomansinemoides n. gen. is also related to Mesodorylaimus, but can be differentiated on the basis of larger stylet aperture, double guiding ring, smaller expanded part of pharynx, and by the position of second pair of pharyngeal gland nuclei which is typical of the subfamily Thornenematinae.