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Description of the Life Cycle Stages of the Parasitic Cymothoid, Cymothoa indica Schioedte and Meinert, 1884, and Its Prevalence in Commercial Fishes from Chilika Lagoon, India

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Abstract

Purpose

To study the morphology of all the life stages and the life cycle of the parasitic isopod Cymothoa indica Schioedte and Meinert, 1884, and its prevalence in different commercial fishes in the Chilika Lagoon, India.

Methods

From April 2021 to December 2022, different life stages of the said parasites were collected from five different fish species from four localities of the Chilika Lagoon. The parasites were carefully removed from the host with a pair of forceps and then identified following standard literature and description. The morphology of all life stages, life cycle, and prevalence of the isopod C. indica were carried out as per the standard protocol.

Results

A total of 1252 host fishes were analysed. The total prevalence was 44.5%. The host with the highest prevalence of C. indica was Glossogobius giuris, with 58.79% of the hosts parasitized by at least one parasite individual. Followed by the host Datnoides polota (50.98%), Johnius dussumieri (46.25%), Etroplus suratensis (28.45%) and the least prevalence was in Lates calcarifer (14.70%). The description of the life stages is based on the observation of 523 females, 116 males, 46 Juveniles, and 50 embryonic stages of the said parasites.

Conclusion

The description of all the life stages and life cycles certainly helps to identify this species with clarity and ease in understanding the species' biology. In future, this study may be helpful in the effective management towards the improvement of aquaculture productivity.

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Data availability

All the data used are available at the Molecular Systematics and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory, Berhampur University, Odisha, India and can be verified after sending a request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful for the support provided by the authority of the Berhampur University, Odisha, India, and Science Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for providing financial assistance to carry out the study (File No. EEQ/2021/000048). We are incredibly thankful to Dr. Aneesh Panakkool Thamban, Assistant Professor of the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan, for his insightful remarks on improving the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Berhampur University, Berhampur, 760007, Odisha, India

    Sanmitra Roy, Sandeep Kumar Mohapatra & Jaya Kishor Seth

  2. Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam, 761002, Odisha, India

    Sandeep Kumar Mohapatra

  3. Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Sriram Chandra Vihar, Takatpur, Baripada, 757003, Odisha, India

    Sanmitra Roy & Hemanta Kumar Sahu

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Contributions

SR and SKM: sampling, identification, conceptualisation, and manuscript preparation; HKS: critical analysis and updating the manuscript; JKS: conceptualisation, manuscript preparation and critical analysis.

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Correspondence to Jaya Kishor Seth.

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As the organisms under the study are not under schedule list/protection categories of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 of India; therefore, ethical clearance certification is not applicable.

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Roy, S., Mohapatra, S.K., Sahu, H.K. et al. Description of the Life Cycle Stages of the Parasitic Cymothoid, Cymothoa indica Schioedte and Meinert, 1884, and Its Prevalence in Commercial Fishes from Chilika Lagoon, India. Acta Parasit. 69, 710–726 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-024-00812-3

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