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Occurrence of infestation with the isopod, Alitropus typus M. Edwards (Crustacea: Flabellifera: Aegidae) on commercially important freshwater fishes of Kerala, India

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Abstract

Rapidly rising temperatures and increasing organic load in the inland and coastal waters has led to a significant increase in parasite population. The isopod Alitropus typus infestation on fish in these waters have become more frequent, causing mortalities in both wild and cultured fishes. The present study was aimed to investigate the infestation on different fish hosts, mean intensity, prevalence, environmental influences on the parasite abundance and the histopathological changes it causes in the host. A total of 219 isopod specimens were collected from 149 infested fishes in two districts of Kerala, India. Among the different fish hosts, Channa striata was found to be the most susceptible, followed by Catla catla, Cyprinus carpio, and Wallago attu, with 81%, 10%, 7%, and 2% occurrence, respectively. The prevalence and mean intensity of infestation were found to be 69.8%, 44.4%, 68.2%, 62.5% and 1.33, 4.25, 1.26, 1.80 in C. striata, W. attu, C. catla, and C. carpio, respectively. The parasite abundance was directly influenced by temperature. The histopathology of affected gill tissues showed epithelial lifting, rupture of secondary gill filaments, vacuole formation and hemocytic infiltration. The findings indicated that the isopod parasite, A. typus had a negative impact on fish health and appearance, causing economic losses to the small scale farmers/fishermen. This is the first reported record of the infestation of isopod parasite, A. typus on the Indian major carp C. catla and C. carpio from India.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the authorities of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies for the facilities extended for carrying out the study.

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases coordinated by ICAR- NBFGR, Government of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquatic Animal Health Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, India

    Kummari Suresh, Salini Gopi, C. G. Rakesh, Gijo Ittoop & Devika Pillai

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  1. Kummari Suresh
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  2. Salini Gopi
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  3. C. G. Rakesh
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  4. Gijo Ittoop
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  5. Devika Pillai
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Contributions

RCG and SG were responsible for data and sample collection, KS and SG were involved with the analysis, results interpretation and drafting of the manuscript. GI in critical revisions and editing of manuscript. As Principal Investigator of the project, DP was responsible for planning of the study, analysis and interpretation of results, critical evaluation and editing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Devika Pillai.

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Suresh, K., Gopi, S., Rakesh, C.G. et al. Occurrence of infestation with the isopod, Alitropus typus M. Edwards (Crustacea: Flabellifera: Aegidae) on commercially important freshwater fishes of Kerala, India. J Parasit Dis 46, 695–703 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-022-01488-0

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