Diversification of the Monogeneans (Platyhelminthes) in Indian Freshwater Fish Families

Present communication deals with general distribution and diversification of Monogenean families parasitizing different freshwater fish families of India. Levels of monogenean parasitism and their diversity are significantly greater in Indian fishes. The most monogeneans parasitized family of fish is Cyprinidae and most dactylogyrids parasitise cyprinids. The family dactylogyridae has more species than any other monogenean family and frequently associated with cyprinid, silurids and bagrids families. Of the various 52 families of freshwater fishes from India, only the Anguillidae, Balitoridae, Chacidae, Chanidae, Channidae, Cobitidae, Coiidae, Erethistidae, Megalopidae, Pristidae, Psilorhynchidae, Salmonidae, Schileidae, Sparidae, Synodontidae and Terapontidae were found to be free of infection with monogeneans. The present study takes a broad look at monogenean diversity in the freshwater fishes of India.

Authors:

• A. Chaudhary
• H.S. Singh

Keywords:

• Diversification
• fish
• India
• Monogenea

References:

[1] D. R. Brooks, and, E. P. Hoberg, "Triage for the biosphere: the need and
rationale for taxonomic inventories and phylogenetic studies of
parasites", Comparative Parasitology, vol. 67, pp. 1-25, 2000.
[2] R. Poulin, and, S. Morand, "The diversity of parasites", Quarterly
Review of Biology, vol. 75, pp. 277-93, 2000.
[3] M. Ivona, "Monogenean parasites in Adriatic cage-reared fish", Acta
Adriatica, vol. 5, pp. 65-73, 2004.
[4] B.E. Bychowsky, "Monogenetic trematodes, their systematic and
phylogeny (English translation)", (Washington: American Institute of
Biological Science) pp. 509, 1957.
[5] G. C. Kearn, "Evolutionary expansion of the Monogenea", International
Journal for Parasitology, vol. 24, pp. 1227-71, 1994.
[6] I. D. Whittington, L. A. Chisholm, and K. Rohde, "The larvae of
Monogenea (Platyhelminthes)", Advances in Parasitology, vol. 44, pp.
139-232, 2000.
[7] R. Poulin, "Determinants of host-specificity in parasites of freshwater
fishes", International Journal for Parasitology, vol. 22, pp. 753-8,
1992.
[8] P. Sasal, S. Trouve', C. Mu¨ller-Graf, and S. Morand, "Specificity and
host predictability: a comparative analysis among monogenean parasites
of fish", Journal of Animal Ecology, vol. 68, pp. 437-44, 1999.
[9] K.C. Pandey, and N. Agrawal, "An encyclopaedia of Indian
Monogenoidea" New Delhi: Vitasta Publishing Pvt Ltd, pp. 552, 2008.