Prevalence, Morphology and Severity of infestation of Echinocephalus overstreeti (Gnathostomatidae) from the Goldsilk Seabream marine fish, Acanthopagrus berda Karnataka, India.

In the present study, samples were collected from Coast of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India of the Arabian Sea to study the prevalence, morphology and severity of infestation of Echinocephalus overstreeti (Gnathostomatidae) from the Goldsilk Seabream marine fish, Acanthopagrus berda. A total of three fishes were examined, out of which one (female) was found infected with E. overstreeti (PFI: 33.33%) and severity of infestation varied from 0 to 0.5. Known species such as E. overstreeti (n=3) were found in between gonads and intestine, near to anus region in the form of capsules. For detailed study, fresh capsules were taken on clean glass slides and slightly ruptured on one end with a needle. Parasites (E. overstreeti) were isolated from capsules, measures body length and width 7.571 (7.567-7.577) mm × 0.21 mm (0.11-0.28) mm., separated parasites were showed the cephalic bulb (CB), 0.29 (0.23-0.36)mm x 0.31 (0.29-0.35)mm, with six rows of spines (S). Larger hooks toward posterior (spines generally increasing in size from 1 to 6 row). Maximum length of spines, 0.014 mm (0.077-0.020). The mouth is guarded by two smooth-surfaced called as bulbous lips (BL). Oesophagus 1.07 (0.983-1.128)mm long. Nerve ring found from anterior extremity. Tail conical, pointed, 0.28 mm (0.223-0.471) long. Posterior extremity of larva with the anus (A) and a pointed mucron (M) based on this morphological characters identified and confirmed as E. overstreeti, which are the major key features for identification.

Keywords:

Morphology , E. overstreeti , PFI (%) , Severity , India