Evaluation of Argulus indicus on striped snakehead (Channa striata) in Towuti Lake, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Amriana, Sari KD, Sriwulan, Anshary H. 2022. Evaluation of Argulus indicus on striped snakehead (Channa striata) in Towuti Lake, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 1355-1362. Fish parasites are frequently present in wild freshwater fish populations, but data are limited on their distribution and impacts. This research aimed to investigate the severity of parasitic Argulus infestation on striped snakeheads (Channa striata) caught in Towuti Lake based on prevalence, intensity, and the bacteria associated with Argulus parasitizing C. striata. The research was conducted from March 2018 to February 2019 at Towuti Lake, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Striped snakehead samples were captured using fish traps and gillnets. Samples of bacteria associated with Argulus were collected from four striped snakeheads (three infested and one non-infested control). Bacteria from Argulus attachment sites were identified through Vitek-2 Compact biochemical tests. Argulus prevalence on striped snakeheads was in the range 73.3-96.7%, with a mean intensity range of 2.18-14.43 and mean abundance 1.67-13.47. Water quality parameters measured in Towuti Lake remained within the Indonesian standards for freshwater fish habitat. The bacteria in striped snakehead mucus comprised two species in control (Staphylococcus xylosus, Pantoea sp.) and seven species in the parasitized fish (Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus mycoides, Acinetobacter baumannii, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Pantoea sp., Aerococcus viridans, Staphylococcus arlettae). This study found a very high prevalence of striped snakehead infestation with parasitic A. indicus at low to medium intensity levels. The study also showed that A. indicus infestation was accompanied by and likely stimulated pathogenic bacteria, which can cause skin infections in fish. Therefore, A. indicus could be considered a threat to striped snakehead populations in Towuti Lake.

Record on Nematode <I>Tanqua tiara</I> Infection on Snakehead Fish <I>Channa striata</I> in South Kalimantan Indonesia

“…Several parasites have been reported to infect snakehead fishes. Infection on snakehead fishes by crustacean parasite Argulus spp has been reported in Bangladesh (Das et al, 2018), in Indonesia (Amriana et al, 2022), and crustacean anchor worm Lernea sp have been reported in Bangladesh (Miah et al, 2013). The protozoan Trichodina has been reported to be found in snakehead fish C. striata (Umara et al, 2014;Novita et al, 2020) and Channa punctatus (Miah et al, 2013;Deb et al, 2015).…”

“…Crustacean parasite, Argulus indicus has been reported to infect striped snakehead (Channa striata) in Towuti Lake, South Sulawesi Indonesia with prevalence ranging from 73.3 to 96.7%, mean intensity from 2.18 to 14.43 parasites/fish, while mean abundance ranged from 1.67 to 13.47 parasites/fish (Amriana et al, 2022). Argulus bengalis has been reported infecting snakehead Channa punctatus from Lalabazar and Ratargul swamp forest of Sylhet in Bangladesh (Das et al, 2018).…”

Complete Mitogenome sequencing of the fish louse Argulus japonicus (Crustacea: Branchiura): Comparative analyses and phylogenetic implications

“…Recently, molecular tools employing genetic markers from the nuclear and mitochondrial (mt) DNA offer a fast and sensitive approach to unveiling the genetic makeup and phylogenetic relationships of targeted species and have been widely used for species-specific identification and differentiation among various organisms, including Argulus (13,19,(22)(23)(24)(25). For example, nuclear genetic markers, including small ribosomal protein 18 (18S), OPC19, and OPH11, have been employed to explore the genetic diversity and species identification of Argulus parasites (6,19,26,27). Moreover, the mt genes, such as cox1, nad1, and nad4, have also proven effective for Argulus identification because of their matrilineal inheritance, high copy number, lack of recombination, and rapid evolution (28)(29)(30)(31).…”