Molecular confirmation of metacercaria of Clinostomum complanatum recovered from one‐stripe spiny eel Macrognathus aral

Abstract

The one‐stripe spiny eel (Macrognathus aral, Bloch & Schneider, 1801) under the family Mastacembelidae, a native ornamental fish, were collected from the freshwater ponds and canals of West Bengal, with a purpose to raise the colony as ornamental fish broodstock. During acclimatization, fish were found to be lethargic and reluctant to consume feed followed by the appearance of deep wounds and red patches on the ventral part of the body surface. There was a mortality of 40.49% of affected fish within the next 48 hours. Post‐mortem examinations revealed the presence of metacercariae inside the body cavity and on internal organs, spreading up to the buccal cavity. The abundance of the parasite was 15 to 36 numbers per fish. The length of the metacercaria varied from 5.2 mm to 9.8 mm. The metacercariae were identified as Clinostomum complanatum by light microscopy. Further, molecular confirmation of identification was done using PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S RNA gene. This is the first report of metacercarial infestation of Clinostomum complanatum with molecular confirmation in indigenous M. aral with high ornamental value.

Assessments and Identification of Selected Fish-Borne Zoonotic Parasites in Nile Tilapia and African Catfish Species in Lakes of Haramaya District, Ethiopia

“…Hence, prevalence of parasite in the body cavity were found 51.5%, 33.3%, and 27.0% in C. gariepinus from Lake Haramaya, Lake Tinike, and Lake Adele, respectively, and 17.3% and 12.9% in O. niloticus in Lake Haramaya and Lake Tinike, respectively. However, the result of total overall prevalence of parasite in the body cavity was 29.7%, which is higher than the previous reports of Muluken [59], Bekele and Hussien [63], and McAllister and Robison [81], but lower than Abdullah et al [18], Mahdy et al [24], Salem et al [31], Tesfaye et al [37], Mahdy et al [52], Lima et al [56], Marshet [58], Corrêa et al [76], and Bera et al [80]. The overall prevalence of parasite in the muscle of fish were 32.4%, 19.6%, and 16.4% in C. gariepinus from Lake Haramaya, Lake Tinike, and Lake Adele, respectively, and 16.0% and 8.1% in O. niloticus from Lake Haramaya and Lake Tinike, respectively.…”

“…The results of the present study showed that the average number of larvae of Contracaecum parasite is similar to that of reported by Tesfaye et al [37] but higher than reported by Abdullah et al [18], Mitiku [35], and Lima et al [56] and lower than Corrêa et al's [76] report. Also, the average of five EMC of Clinostomum was recorded from Clinostomum infected fish, which is lower than reported by Bera et al [80], McAllister and Robison [81], and Aghlmandi et al [82], but higher than reported by Mitiku [35] and Mahdy et al [24]. Therefore, detection of FBZP in the fish from Haramaya District lakes indicates potential public health risk associated with consumption of fish meat from these lakes.…”

“…However, prevalence of Clinostomum in C. gariepinus were 17.6%, 17.2%, and 9.8% in Lake Haramaya, Lake Tinike, and Lake Adele, respectively, and 19.8% and 11.3% in O. niloticus from Lake Haramaya and Lake Tinike, respectively. The prevalence of Clinostomum in Lake Haramaya and Lake Tinike [31], Mitiku [35], Amare et al [38], Gebawo [40], Temesgen and Getachew [42], Mahdy et al [52], Mutengu and Mhlanga [79], Bera et al [80], and McAllister and Robison [81] and higher than reported by Calhoun et al [25], Hailekiros et al [57], Muluken [59], and Bekele and Hussien [63].…”