Ranjeet Singh

A synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) parasitising Indian fishes and a revised dichotomous key to myxosporean genera

A synopsis of 131 nominal species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) reported from India is presented. For each species, the relevant morphometric and morphological data are indicated, as well as the host(s), site(s) of infection within the host and locality data. A revised dichotomous key of 59 genera of the class Myxosporea has also been included. This key incorporates 10 additional genera to that proposed in 1991 by Lom & Dyková.

One new myxosporidian species, Myxobolus slendrii sp. nov., and one known species, M. punjabensis Gupta and Khera, 1989, infecting freshwater fishes in wetlands of Punjab, India

Myxosporidian parasites of fish are very important as they cause severe damage to a large number of commercially important fishes. During our study of Myxozoan parasite of fishes of Punjab wetlands, India, a new myxosporean species, Myxobolus slendrii sp. nov., was recorded from mucous membrane around gill lamellae and one already known species Myxobolus punjabensis from caudal fins of Cirrhina mrigala has been described. Spores of M. slendrii sp. nov. are pyriform, highly elongated, and much slender in shape with a pointed anterior end and a rounded posterior end. The shell valves appear thicker at the posterior end of the spore than the rest on the spore body. Two polar capsules are placed posteriorly from the tip of the spore running parallel to each other. They are equal, pyriform, and highly elongated, equally containing six to eight coils of polar filament. Intercapsular process and iodinophilous vacuole are absent.

Two new and one already known species of the genus Thelohanellus (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) parasitizing fresh water fishes in wetlands of Punjab, India

Abstract A study of parasites of freshwater fishes in Harike and Ropar wetlands of Punjab of India revealed the presence of two new and one already known myxozoan species belonging to the genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 infecting gills and caudal fin of two carps and gall bladder of a catfish in the wetlands of Punjab, India. Plasmodia of the first species, T. lamelliformis sp. n. are found infecting primary gill lamellae of Catla catla (Hamilton, 1822) vern. thail, spores measure 10.27 × 4.9 μm, are elongate pyriform, tapering anteriorly in valvular view, having truncated anterior end and broad rounded posterior end. Shell valves are stained dark blue (with iron-haematoxylin) in the middle as well as in the posterior part of the spore body. Anteriorly, a prominent bent is present on one side of the shell valve. Polar capsule is broadly pyriform, measures 3.8 × 2.6 μm and is placed in the middle of spore body cavity with a distinct neck leading to the outside. Plasmodia of the second species, T. rohi sp. n. are found infecting caudal fin of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) vern. rohu, spores measure 14.5 × 7.7 μm, are elongately oval in valvular view having narrow, blunt anterior end with a prominent pore and broad rounded posterior end. A knob-like structure is present at the anterior end of the spore. Inner valve stains dark-blue (with iron-haematoxylin) in the middle and posterior part of the spore body. Polar capsule is oval to spherical in shape, measures 5.5 × 4.7 μm, is placed anteriorly and occupies nearly one third of the spore body cavity. Plasmodia of the third species, T. wallagoi Sarkar, 1985 infect primary gill lamellae of Wallago attu (Bloch & Schneider, 1807), spores measure 8.2 × 4.1 μm, are pyriform in valvular view, having bluntly pointed anterior end and rounded posterior end. Parietal folds are absent. Polar capsule is pyriform, measures 3.3 × 1.67 μm, is eccentrically placed with narrow pointed anterior end. Earlier, this species was reported from West Bengal infecting gall bladder of Wallago attu.

One new Myxosporean species, Triangula cirrhini sp. nov., and one known species, T. ludhianae (syn. M. ludhianae Gupta and Khera, 1991) comb. n. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), infecting Indian major carp in Harike wetland of Punjab

Myxozoans are important metazoan parasites infecting variety of fishes all over the world. During our study of myxosporean parasites of fishes of Harike wetland, India, Triangula cirrhini sp. nov. and one already known species, Triangula ludhianae (syn. M. ludhainae Gupta and Khera, 1991) were recorded from mucous membrane covering the epithelial lining of primary gill lamellae of Cirrhina reba (Ham.) (Cyprinidae: Cypriniformes). Spores of the first species, T. cirrhini sp. nov., measure 6.7 × 6.6 μm, triangular, bowl-shaped in valvular view having broad and flattened anterior end and narrow rounded posterior end. 4-5 prominent sutural edge markings (parietal folds) are present around the posterior margin of shell valves. In some spores, 7-8 sutural edge markings are also present all around the circumference. Polar capsules are two, equal measuring 3.3 × 3.1 μm, running parallel to each other, bottle-shaped with fine ducts opening divergently at the anterior corner of the spore. A very large intercapsular process is present. Spores of the second species, Triangula ludhianae (syn. M. ludhianae Gupta and Khera, 1991) measure 8.4 × 6.9 μm, conical in valvular view having broad and flattened anterior end and narrow blunt posterior end. Polar capsules are two, large, equal, measuring 3.3 × 3.0 μm and bottled-shaped with fine ducts opening wide apart at the anterior corners of the spore. An intercapsular process is absent but a crescent-shaped depression is present at the anterior end in the intercapsular space. In the present study, M. ludhianae is transferred to the genus Triangula on the basis of spore morphology.

Evaluation of Antianxiety Potential of Four Ganoderma (Agaricomycetes) Species from India in Mice

The genus Ganoderma consists of widespread polypore mushrooms that have traditionally been used to reduce stress and anxiety. However, scientific evidence for this is not adequate. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the anxiolytic potential of G. applanatum, G. brownii, G. lucidum, and G. philippii collected from Uttarakhand, India. Various extracts of dried, powdered basidiocarps were prepared using different solvents-namely, petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and distilled water-by successive Soxhlet extraction. All the extracts were tested for antianxiety activity using the elevated plus maze (EPM) model in Swiss albino mice. The results showed that the methanol extract of G. lucidum at a dose of 200 mg/kg, administered orally, shows a significant increase in the average time spent in the open arms of the EPM when compared with the control; this was comparable to the effect of the standard drug (diazepam, 2 mg/kg by mouth). This bioactive methanol extract was subjected to bioactivity-guided fractionation. The results show that the n-butanol fraction of the methanol extract evinced significant antianxiety activity at a dose of 100 mg/kg. This fraction showed the presence of phenols and flavonoids and thus was standardized with respect to total phenol content and total flavonoid content. The antianxiety activity may be the result of the phenols/flavonoids present. This study clearly demonstrated that the n-butanol fraction from the methanol extract of G. lucidum can be developed as source of new anxiolytic agents.