Research Article

Observations on the Occurrence of Subgenus Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) (Nematoda: Camallanidae) Parasitizing Two Species of Freshwater Fishes from Sindh, Pakistan

Muhammad Moosa Abro1*, Nadir Ali Birmani2 and Muhammad Bachal Bhutto3

1Department of Zoology, Government College University Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan; 2Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan; 3Department of Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, Pakistan.

Received | December 05, 2020; Accepted | March 07, 2021; Published | May 15, 2021

*Correspondence | Muhammad Moosa Abro, Department of Zoology, Government College University Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan; Email: abromusa@gmail.com

Citation | Abro, M.M., N.A. Birmani and M.B. Bhutto. 2021. Observations on the occurrence of subgenus Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) (Nematoda: Camallanidae) parasitizing two species of freshwater fishes from Sindh, Pakistan. Journal of Innovative Sciences, 7(1): 98-102.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jis/2021/7.1.98.102

Keywords | Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus), Mastacembelus armatus, Oreochromis niloticus, Indus river, Sindh, Pakistan

1. Introduction

Subgenera of Procamallanus Baylis, 1923 including subgenus Spirocamallanus, consist of large number of species mainly recorded from tropical and subtropical marine water and freshwater fishes (Moravec and Van As, 2015). This genus was subdivided into five subgenera; Denticamallanus Moravec and Thatcher, 1997, Procamallanus Baylis, 1923, Punctocamallanus Moravec and Scholz, 1991, Spirocamallanoides Moravec and Sey, 1988 and Spirocamallanus Olsen, 1952 (Moravec and Thatcher, 1997) and Rigby and Rigby (2014) elevated the status of these subgenera to generic level. Many authors followed former subgeneric status and latter is dubbed as unnatural (Moravec and Van As, 2015). Moreover, the comparison of species on the basis of zoogeographic region have been accepted and preferred (Andrade-Salas et al., 1994; Rigby and Adamson, 1997; Rigby and Font, 1997). Many species of subgenus Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) (many authors consider it genus in IndoPak region but this study considers it subgenus) recorded time to time from IndoPak subcontinent (Sood, 1989; Soota, 1983; Akhtar and Bilqees, 2011). Its morphological study needs organized and meticulous approach. The ecological parameters have been ignored in previous studies. The present paper provides general morphology and ecological study of subgenus Spirocammallanus recorded in Mastacembelus armatus and Oreochromis niolitcus from the Indus river. The subgenus under study previously recorded from marine and freshwater fishes including Tachysurus caelatus, Jhonius dussumeiri, Sillago sihama, Crossorhombus azureus, Argyrops spinifer, Otolithus argenteus, Otolithus ruber and Wallagu attu (Soota, 1983; Akhtar and Bilqees, 2011).

2. Material and Methods

Eighteen specimens of Mastacembelus armatus and thirteen of Oreochromis niloticus were collected randomly with fixed fishing nets between April 2018 to January 2020 from the Indus river at Kotri barrage 25.4423° N, 68.3166° E and Sukkur barrage 27.6733° N, 68.8471° E. Both hosts collected from both localities. These localities are part of Sindh Province of Pakistan. Fish hosts were packed in plastic sacs and transported in ice box to Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Sindh Jamshoro. Samples were dissected. Visceral organs were removed and placed separately in Petri plates. These organs were agitated and teased in normal saline. The visual and light microscopic observation noticed presence of nematodes in small intestine of some hosts. After collection of nematodes, they were preserved in 70% enthanol with few drops of glycerine. Semi-permanent slide was prepared for detail study on light microscopy. Photomicrographs were captured with Amscope trinocular microscope attached with 14 megapixel camera. Line drawings were made with drawing tube attached with Olympus microscope model Ch20i. All measurements taken in millimeter. Ecological parameters were followed as mentioned by Margolis et al. (1982) and Bush et al. (1997). Specimens were deposited in Zoology Museum, Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro.

3. Result and Discussion

A total of 26 specimens (16 male and 10 female) of subgenus Spirocamallanus were recorded from Mastacembelus armatus with prevalence of 33.33% and from Oreochromis niloticus with prevalence of 7.69%.

3.1 Description (Figures 1 and 2).

Medium sized nematodes measured 4.38-5.1 X 0.14-0.21 with transversely striated cuticle. Mouth aperture circular. Buccal capsule prominent, thick walled, barrel shaped, slightly longer than wide, with well developed basal rings. Buccal capsule measured, 0.083-0.091 X 0.07-0.011. Inner surface of buccal capsule provided with 10-13 horizontal spiral ridges. Esophagus long and divided into short muscular and long glandular esophagus, muscular esophagus measured, 0.44-0.53 X 0.06-0.09 and glandular esophagus measured 1-1.15 long. Both part of esophagus slightly expanded near their posterior ends. Posterior extremity of specimen bent ventrally, provided with alae and supported by ten pairs of pedunculated papillae. All papillae preanal in position. Spicule single, measured, 0.22-0.29 long, having stout gubernaculum measured 0.035-0.039 in size.

 

Taxonomic summary

Family:	Camallanidae Railliet and Henery, 1915
Genus:	Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) (Baylis, 1923)
Species:	Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp.
No. of specimens collected:	26
Host:	Mastacembelus armatus (6/18), Oreochromis niloticus (1/13)
Prevalence:	Mastacembelus armatus 33.33%, Oreochromis niloticus 7.69 %
Site of infection:	Intestine
Locality:	Indus River at Sindh
Status:	New host record

 

Present nematode morphologically belong to subgenus Procamallanus (Spirocammlanus) on basis of having spiral thickening in buccal capsule. This subgenus is previously reported from marine and freshwater fishes (Moravec and Van As, 2015). A good number of species reported from all over the world especially South Asia (Sood, 1989). Almost 10 species of subgenus Spirocamallanus recorded from Marine and freshwater fishes of Pakistan (Akhtar and Bilqees, 2011). Out of these, only few recorded from freshwater fishes including S. gubenaculus Khera, 1955 in Rita rita, Mystus cavasius, and Notopterus notopterus; S. kalaria Rehana and Bilqees, 1979 in Wallagu attu (Soota, 1983; Rehana and Bilqees, 1979).

Present study records this subgenus from two species of freshwater fishes from the Indus River. Previous studies recorded Spirocammallanus and two other subgenera (Procamallanus Baylis, 1923 Denticamallanus Moravec and Thatcher, 1997) of genus Procamallanus from freshwater water fishes of Africa, South America, North America, Australia, Asia and Europe (Moravec et al., 2000, 2019; Ramallo et al., 2017; Moravec and Scholz, 1991; Soota, 1983). A few study recorded species of Spirocamallanus from freshwater fishes of Pakistan (Rehana and Bilqees, 1979; Akhtar and Bilqees, 2011) and none has recorded this subgenus from Mastacembelus armatus and Oreochromis niloticus. Hence, it is first record of this nematode from hosts and locality.

The present study recorded 26 specimen of subgenus Spirocamallanus from Mastacembelus armatus and Oreochromis niloticus. Eighteen Mastacembelus armatus were examined 6 were found infected with 22 specimens of nematodes with prevalence (33.33%), intensity (3.660 and density (1.2) recorded. Mastacembelus armatus eats diverse food including Prawn, earthworms, small fishes, small crabs, fish eggs, crustaceans, aquatic insect larvae (Ali et al., 2003; Sharifudin et al., 1998; Gupta and Baneerjee, 2016). Therefore, this fish may be infected due to its feeding habits. Thirteen Oreochromis niloticus were examined only one was harboring four specimens of Spirocamallanus with prevalence (7.69%), intensity (4) and density (0.306). Oreochromis niloticus feeds on blue-green algae, aquatic invertebrates and plant materials (Getabu and Ngwala, 2014; Abari et al., 2015).

The difference in prevalence of Spirocamallanus in both host (Table 1) suggest that both host eat variety of diet and forage in different water area. Consequently, they face different environment factors. Moreover, life cycle of intermediate host and its being part of definitive host diet also determine prevalence of this nematode.

 

Table 1: Ecological parameters of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) population and feeding habits of host.

Host	Diet	Host examined	Found positive	Recorded Specimen	Prevalence	Mean Intensity	Relative density
Mastacembelus armatus	Prawn, Earthworm, Small fish, small crabs, Molluscs, Fish eggs (Ali et al., 2003), crustacean, forage fish, annelids and aquatic insects (Sharifudin et al., 1998), crustacean and insect larvae while the adults devour small fish and tadpoles (Gupta, 2016)	18	6	22	33.33%	3.66	1.2
Oreochromis niloticus	Blue-green algae, Green algae, Diatoms, Desmids, Aquatic invertebrates (Getabu and Abari, 2015) plant materials (Ngwala, 2014)	13	1	4	7.69%	4	0.306

 

The intensity shows opposite view from prevalence (3.66 in Mastacembelus armatus and 4 in Oreochromis niloticus. Which is less diverse feeder than Mastacembelus armatus.

The relative density of Spirocamallanus (1.2 in Mastacembelus armatus and 0.306 in Oreochromis niloticus) reflects similarity with prevalence. Therefore, the higher prevalence and density of Spirocamallanus in Mastacembelus armatus than Oreochromis niloticus is either due to diverse feeding habits (Table 1) of Mastacembelus armatus, availability of intermediate host or preference of this nematode for this host. The running water in the river is suitable for Mastacembelus armatus than Oreochromis niloticus.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Subgenus Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) was first time recorded from Mastacembelus armatus and Oreochromis niloticus from the Indus river at Sindh. This nematode found more prevalent in Mastacembelus armatus than Oreochromis niloticus.

Acknowledgements

This study part of HEC funded project 3426 NRPU /HEC. Authors acknowledges HEC efforts in this regard.

Novelty Statement

Current research paper recorded nematode, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) for first time from the two freshwater fishes species of the Indus river at Sindh.

Author’s Contribution

Muhammad Moosa Abro and Nadir Ali Birmani conceived, designed and performed the experiments and wrote the paper. Muhammad Bachal Bhutto contributed reagents and analysis tools.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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