Ganapathy Rameshkumar

New record of Norileca indica from the west coast of India

Two hundred and twenty samples of Rastrelliger kanagurta from the Cochin Fisheries Harbour were collected during the month of August 2013. Forty-one specimens (32 females and 9 males) were parasitized by the cymothoid isopod Norileca indica. N. indica is recorded for the first time from the west coast of India.

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

Totally 384 Mothocya plagulophora were collected in the branchial cavities of Hemiramphus far from the Southeast coast of India during the study period (from July to September 2013). 204 parasites were found in the left branchial cavity and 180 in the right one. The maximum prevalence was observed in July 2013 and the minimum in September 2013. The intensity ranged from a minimum value (1.3) in July and August to a maximum (1.4) in September 2013. In most cases, the parasite was located between the second and the third branchial arch, attached either to the vomerine arch or to the internal wall of the branchial operculum.

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

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.

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.

New occurrence of parasitic isopod Argathona sp. (Stebbing, 1905) from Epinephelus undulosus in the Tuticorin coast, Gulf of Mannar region

In the present study of Epinephelus undulosus captured in gillnets from the inshore waters of Tuticorin, Gulf of Mannar region during December 2014. The present findings represent the first occurrence of Argathona sp. and here in reported. The materials examined were deposited at the Kamaraj College, Marine Biological Research Laboratory, Tuticorin, India. The parasitological indexes were calculated. The site of attachment of the parasites on their hosts was also observed. Host-parasite relationships are considered and these parasites can cause the damage in gill, eye and internal organ including swim bladder. Marine fish parasitology is a rapidly developing field of aquatic science.

Occurrence, morphology and molecular characterisation of Bopyrid parasite Epipenaeon ingens Nobili, 1906 (Isopoda: Bopyridae)

AbstractEpipenaeon ingens occurs most commonly in Southeast Coast of India parasitized the penaeid shrimp. The present study provides the prevalence, morphological and molecular characterisation of E. ingens collected from the host Metapenaeopsis stridulans. In the present study highlights the significance of high prevalence and genetic diversity of E. ingens in M. stridulans. Intra specific analysis also revealed that E. ingens species detected in the present study can be easily distinguished from the other genospecies of bopyrids. Further application of this molecular tool to investigate the genetic variability among bopyrids detected in different hosts may facilitate our understanding of the significance of genetic diversity in relation to the infestation of bopyrid species in south coast of India.