title: Molecular and phylogenetic characterization ofThelohanellus qadrii(Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Bivalvulida) infecting the secondary gill epithelium of Indian major carp,Catla catla(Hamilton, 1822).
abstract: Myxosporean taxonomy which is traditionally based on the morphology of the myxospore stage, is in a state of flux given new insights provided by the expanding dataset of DNA sequences. To date, more than 40 species ofThelohanellusfrom India have been described according to morphometric characteristics. Nevertheless, molecular data on these histozoic myxosporean parasites of freshwater fish are scarce. In the present study, molecular characterizations ofThelohanellus qadriiinfecting the secondary gill epithelium of Indian major carpCatla catla(Hamilton, 1822) and its phylogenetic relationship is reported. The sub-adult cultured catla were observed to have low to moderate gill myxosporean infections. The morphometry of mature spores was in compliance with original descriptions ofT. qadrii.Based on the analysis of 18S rRNA gene, phylogenetic clusters which were established according to a consensus sequence, illustrated the taxonomic placement of a series of myxobolids. The DNA sequence homogeneity ofT. qadrii(KF170928) with otherThelohanllusspp. ranged from 78% to 95% and formed a dichotomy with cyprinid gill lamellae infectingT. toyamai(HQ338729). Distance matrix results indicated a high genetic diversity among myxosporeans. The present report is the first on the molecular and phylogenetic characterizations ofT. qadrii.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West BengalUniversity of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Chakgaria, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Sayani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West BengalUniversity of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Chakgaria, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Avijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patra
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West BengalUniversity of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Chakgaria, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Harresh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adikesavalu
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West BengalUniversity of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Chakgaria, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Siddhartha Narayan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Joardar
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West BengalUniversity of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Chakgaria, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Thangapalam Jawahar
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Abraham
keywords: Catla catla; Molecular characterization; Myxosporean infection; Phylogenetic relationship; Thelohanellus qadrii