Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Species diversity of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) parasitizing fishes in Indian subcontinent

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Journal of Parasitic Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A synopsis of 52 nominal species of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 reported to infect freshwater fishes in India is presented. These species infect various organs such as gills, fins, scales, skin, muscles, gall bladder, kidney etc. The diagnostic features of the genus include tear-shaped myxospores with smooth shell valves and single polar capsule. The members are histozoic in their nature of parasitism infecting fresh water fishes. The present manuscript is aimed to compile the list of reported species in India along with essential information on morphometrics of vegetative stage, host, organ preference and pathogenic effects if any. Maximum number of species are recorded from state of West Bengal (25) followed by 23 in Punjab (out of which 8 were already reported from other states of India), Andhra Pradesh (7), Orissa (3), Manipur (1) and Haryana (1). Majority of the species have been recorded to infect major and minor carps (43 species) and 9 species in cat fishes. Out of 43 species infecting Indian major carps, T. batae infected the epithelial lining of gill filament of Labeo bata and also the wall of the duodenum and pectoral fin of Wallago attu in Harike Wetland (Punjab). Organ distribution of the species belonging to the genus Thelohanellus indicated that the plasmodia of 27 species were located in the gills, 14 species in the fins, 7 species in the gall bladder, 4 species in muscles and 3 species in kidney, 2 each in scale and skin on the head region and 1 species each in brain, eye, spleen, liver and wall of the duodenum. Recent studies conducted by the authors and also by few earlier studies in West Bengal have documented many species of Thelohanellus to cause serious gill haemorrhagic disease and dermal lesions. Histological studies on the gills of cultured carps in Punjab infected with members of Thelohanellus have indicated that these parasites cause 15–20 % damage to respiratory surface leading to localized loss of function.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acharya S, Dutta T (2007) Thelohanellus habibpuri sp. n. (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) from the tropical freshwater fish rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchann, 1882) in West Bengal, India: Light and electron microscope observations. Anim Biol 57:293–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akhmerov AK (1955) Ways of the origin of myxosporidian species of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo from Amur wild carp. Dokl Akad Nauk SSSR 105:1129–1132

    Google Scholar 

  • Akhmerov AK (1960) Myxosporidia of fishes from the Amur River basin. Rybn Khoz Venutr Vodoemov Latv SSR 5:240–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson CL, Canning EU, Schafer SM, Yokoyama H, Okamura B (2000) Molecular confirmation of the life cycle of Thelohanellus hovorkai Achmerov, 1960 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea). Bull Eur Assoc Fish Pathol 3:111–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu S, Haldar DP (1998) Comparative study on prevalence of protozoan parasites in pure and hybrid carps. Environ Ecol 16:584–587

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu S, Haldar DP (1999) Thelohanellus bifurcata n. sp. a new species of the genus Thelohanellus from hybrid carps and checklist of the species of the genus described from Indian fishes. Proc Zool Soc Calcutta 52(1):115–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu S, Haldar DP (2003) Observations on two new Thelohanelloid species (Myxozoa:Bivalvulida) from Indian major carps of West Bengal, India. J Parasitol Dis Appl Anim Biol 12(1&2):15–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu S, Modak BK, Haldar DP (2006) Synopsis of the Indian species of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 along with description of Thelohanellus disporomorphus sp.n. J Parasitol Dis Appl Anim Biol 15(1–2):81–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu S, Modak BK, Haldar DP (2015) Biological diversity of Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa:Myxosporea:Bivalvulida) parasitizing freshwater fishes of India. J Environ Sociobiol 1:26–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavander WP, Wood JS, Powell MS, Overturf K, Cain KD (2004) Realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) to identify Myxobolus cerebralis in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Dis Aquat Org 60:205–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakravarty M, Basu MS (1948) Observations on some myxosporidians parasitic in fishes, with an account of nuclear cycles in one of them. Proc Zool Soc Bengal 1:23–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin MJ, Pote LM, Camus AC, Mauel MJ, Greenway TE, Wise DJ (2009) Application of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of Henneguya ictaluri in commercial channel catfish ponds. Dis Aquat Org 86:223–233

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hagargi SS, Kundu TK, Haldar DP (1979) Observations on Thelohanellus rodgi n. sp. (Protozoa: Myxosporidia) from a freshwater teleost. J Karnataka Univ Sci 4:21–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Haldar DP, Das MK, Sharma BK (1983) Studies on Protozoan Parasites from Fishes Four New Species of the Genera Henneguya Thelohan, 1892, Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933, and Myxobolus Butschli, 1892. Archiv für Protistenkunde 127(3):283–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haldar DP, Samal KK, Mukhopadhyay D (1997) Studies in the protozoan parasites of fishes in Orissa: five new species of the genera Henneguya, Thelohanellus and Unicauda (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida). J. Bengal Nat Hist Soc 16:50–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemananda T, Bandyopadhyay PK, Mohilal MN, Mitra AK (2010a) On the occurrence of a myxozoan parasite, Thelohanellus anilae sp. n. from a fresh water fish of India. Anim Biol 60(3):329–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hemananda T, Mohilal N, Bandyopadhyay PK, Mitra AK (2010b) Thelohanellus imphalensis sp. nov. (Myxozoa) infecting gills of major carp Labeo rohita Hamilton 1822 from Thoubal, Manipur, India. Protistology 6:280–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalavati C, Nandi NC (2007) Handbook of Myxosporidean parasites of Indian fishes. ZSI, Kolkata 293 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalavati C, Vaidehi J (1991) A new myxosporidian Thelohanellus chilkensis new species from the gills of the common carp Labeo rohita in Chilka Lake, Orissa. Uttar Pradesh J Zool 11:73–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H (2014) A Review article—Myxozoan infestation in freshwater fishes in wetlands and aquaculture in Punjab (India). Adv Anim Vet Sci 2(9):488–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Katoch A (2014) Gill disease caused by Thelohanellus bifurcata Basu and Haldar, 1999 a pathogenic myxozoan parasite in cultured Indian carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) in Punjab, India. J Anim Health Prod 2(2):19–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Katoch A (2016) Prevalence, site and tissue preference of myxozoan parasites infecting gills of cultured fish in Punjab(India). Dis Aquat Org 118:129–137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Singh R (2012) A synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) parasitizing Indian fishes and a revised dichotomous key to myxosporean genera. Syst Parasitol 81:17–37

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Dar SA, Singh R (2013a) A report on three myxozoan parasites causing gill myxoboliosis in aquaculture fishes in Punjab (India). Trends Parasitol Res 1:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Dar SA, Singh R (2013b) One new and three already known myxosporean parasites of Indian major carps in Punjab (India). Species 4:17–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Dar SA, Katoch A (2014a) Thelohanellus dykovi sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Bivalvulidae), a pathogenic gill parasite in cultured Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton 1822) in Punjab (India). Species 10(23):24–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Katoch A, Gupta A (2014b) Thelohanellus filli sp. n., a pathogenic myxosporean infecting gills of cultured carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton 1822) in Punjab, India. Species 10(23):31–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Katoch A, Dar SA, Singh R (2015) Myxobolus nanokiensis sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Bivalvulidae), a new pathogenic myxosporean parasite causing haemorrhagic gill disease in cultured Indian major carp fish, Labeo rohita (Hamilton 1822) in Punjab, India. J Parasit Dis 39:405–413

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley KO, Adkison MA, Zagmutt-vergara FJ, Leutenegger CM, Bethel JW, Myklebust KA, McDowell TS, Hedrick RP (2006) Evaluation of quantitative real time PCR for rapid assessments of exposure of sentinel fish to Myxpbolus cerebralis. Parasitol Res 99:328–335

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy CR (1994) Foreword. In: Pike AW, Lewis JW (eds) Parasitic diseases of fish. Samara Publishers, Tresaith, Dyfed, pp 1–2

    Google Scholar 

  • Kudo R (1933) A taxonomic consideration of myxosporidia. Trans Am Microsc Soc 52(3):195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kundu TK, Haldar DP (1981) Studies on Thelohanellus jiroveci sp. n., a new myxosporidian parasitic in a common teleost fish. Věstník Československé Společnosti Zoologické 45:94–101

    Google Scholar 

  • LalithaKumari PS (1969) Studies on parasitic protozoa (Myxosporidia) of fresh water fishes of Andhra Pradesh, India. Rivista Di Parasitologia 30:153–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Liyanage YS, Yokoyama H, Wakabayashi H (2003) Dynamics of experimental production of Thelohanellus hovorkai (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) in fish and oligochaete alternate hosts. J Fish Dis 26(10):575–582

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lom J, Dykova I (1992) Myxosporidia (Phylum Myxozoa). In: Lom J, Dykova I (eds) Protozoan parasites of fishes. Developments in aquaculture and fisheries. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 159–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Madhavan R, Bandyopadhyay PK, Santosh B (2012) Two new species of Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Cnidaria: Mixosporea) from minor carps (Labeo spp. and Cirrhinus reba) of Tripura state, India. Protistology. Protistology 7(4):203–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Molnar K (1994) Comments on the hosts, organ and tissue specificity of fish myxosporean and type of their intrapiscine development. Parasitol Hungarica 27:5–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Mondal A, Banerjee S, Patra A, Adikesavalu H, Raghu KR, Dash G, Joardar SN, Abraham TJ (2014) Molecular and morphometric characterization of Thelohanellus caudatus(Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) infecting the caudal fin of Labeo rohita (Hamilton). Protistology 8(2):41–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukhopadhyay D, Haldar DP (2004) Thelohanellus endodermitus sp. n. A new myxozoan (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) from the major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan) in a sewage farm in West Bengal, India. Environ Ecol 22(1):139–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Narasimhamurti CC, Kalavati C, Anuradha I, Dorothy KP (1990) Studies on the protozoan parasites of deepwater fishes from the Bay of Bengal. In: Proceeding of the first workshop on scientific results of FORV, Sagar Sampada, 5–7 June, 1989, pp 325–336

  • Pagarkar U, Das M (1993) Two new species of Myxozoa, Thelohanellus caudatus n. sp. and Myxobolusserrata n. sp. from cultural carps. J Inland Fish Soc India 25(1):30–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Qadri SS (1962a) New myxosporidian from the Indian fresh water fish, Labeo fimbricatus II.Thelohanellus andhrae sp.n. Z Parasitenk 21:517–520

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Qadri SS (1962b) A new myxosporidian Thelohanellus boggoti n. sp. from an Indian fresh water fish, Labeo boggot. Arch Protistend 106:218–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Qadri SS (1967) On a new myxosporidian, Thelohanellus shortti n. sp. from a fresh water fish, Labeo fimbricatus of Andhra Pradesh, India. Protozoology 2:20–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhee JK, Kim JO, Park BK (1990a) Prophylactic and therapeutic studies on intestinal giant-cystic diseae of the Israel caused by Thelohanellus kitauei. I. Course of formation and vanishment of the cyst. Korean J Parasitol 28:183–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rhee JK, Kim JO, Park BK (1990b) Prophylactic and therapeutic studies on intestinal giant-cystic disease of the Israel caused by Thelohanellus kitauei. II. Effects of physical and chemical factors on T. kitauei spores in vitro. Korean J Parasitol 28:241–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar NK (1987) Studies on myxosporidian parasites (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) from marine fishes in West Bengal, India. II. Description of two new species from Tachysurus platystomus (Day). Arch Protistenkd 133:151–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar NK (1994) Three new species of Myxosporidia (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) infecting some freshwater fishes of West Bengal, India. Proc Zool Soc Calcutta 47(1):63–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar NK, Ghosh S (1990) Two new myxozoan parasite of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) from fresh water fishes of West Bengal, India. New Agric 1:35–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar NK, Mazumdar S (1983) Studies on myxosporidian parasites (Myxozoa: Myxosomatidae) from marine fishes in West Bengal, India. I. Description of three new species from Tachysurus sp. Arch Protistenkd 127(1):59–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar NK, Raychaudhuri S (1986) Thelohanellus bengalensis sp. n. and Myxidium mystuium sp. n. (Myxozoa): two new myxosporidia from Indian freshwater teleost. Acta Protozool 25(3):359–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Kaur H (2012a) Thelohanellus (Myxozoa: Myxosporea:Bivalvulida) infections in major carp fish from Punjab wetlands (India). Protistology 7:178–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Kaur H (2012b) Two new Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa: Myxosprea: Bivalvulida) infecting fins of major carps in wetlands of Punjab. Trends Parasitol Res 1(3):34–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Kaur H (2012c) Myxosporean species of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa:Myxosprea:Bivalvulida) from freshwater fishes of Punjab wetlands, India. Protistology 7(4):208–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Kaur H (2012d) Biodiversity of myxozoan parasites infecting freshwater fishes of three main wetlands of Punjab, India. Protistology 7(2):79–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Kaur H (2014) Two new and two already known species of genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) infecting Indian major carp fishes in Punjab wetlands (India). J Parasit Dis 38(1):49–60

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Kaur H (2015) Two new and one already known species of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) parasitizing fresh water fishes in wetlands of Punjab, India. Biologia 70(1):85–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Southwell T, Prashad B (1918) On some Mxosporidia. Parasites of Indian fishes with a note on the carcinoma in the climbing perch. II. Rec Indian Mus Calcutta 15:341–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Sze´kely C, El-Mansy A, Molnar´ K, Baska F (1998) Development of Thelohanellus hovorkai and Thelohanellus nikolskii (Myxosporea: Myxozoa) in oligochaetes alternate hosts. Fish Pathol 33:107–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thelohan P (1892) Observations sur les myxosporidies et éssai de classification de ces organismes. Bull Soc Philom 4:165–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi Y R (1952) Studies on the parasites of Indian fishes. І. Protozoa. Myxosporidia together with a checklist of parasitic protozoa described from Indian fishes. Rec Indian Museum 50:63–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama H (1997) Transmission of Thelohanellus hovorkai Achmerov, 1960 (Myxosporea:Myxozoa) to common carp Cyprinus carpio through the alternate oligochaete host. Syst Parasitol 36:107–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama H, Kiyanage YS, Sugai A, Wakabayashi H (1998) Hemorrhagic thelohanellosis of color carp caused by Thelohanelllus hovorkai (Myxozoa: Myxosporea). Fish Pathol 33:85–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JY, Gu ZM, Kalavati C, Eiras JC, Liu Y, Guo QY, Molnar K (2013) A synopsis of the species of Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida). Syst Parasitol 86:235–256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support by DST–Purse Grant sanctioned to Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Author contributions

The corresponding author is supervising subsequent authors who are persuing PhD/PDF under her guidance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    Harpreet Kaur

  2. Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, India

    Harpreet Kaur, Ranjeet Singh, Anu Katoch, Rajni Attri, Shoaib Ali Dar & Aditya Gupta

Authors
  1. Harpreet Kaur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ranjeet Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anu Katoch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rajni Attri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shoaib Ali Dar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Aditya Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harpreet Kaur.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kaur, H., Singh, R., Katoch, A. et al. Species diversity of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) parasitizing fishes in Indian subcontinent. J Parasit Dis 41, 305–312 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-016-0836-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-016-0836-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation