One new Myxosporean species, Triangula cirrhini sp. nov., and one known species, T. ludhianae (syn. M. ludhianae Gupta and Khera, 1991) comb. n. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), infecting Indian major carp in Harike wetland of Punjab

Abstract

Myxozoans are important metazoan parasites infecting variety of fishes all over the world. During our study of myxosporean parasites of fishes of Harike wetland, India,Triangula cirrhinisp. nov. and one already known species,Triangula ludhianae(syn.M. ludhainaeGupta and Khera, 1991) were recorded from mucous membrane covering the epithelial lining of primary gill lamellae ofCirrhina reba(Ham.) (Cyprinidae: Cypriniformes). Spores of the first species,T. cirrhinisp. nov., measure 6.7 × 6.6 μm, triangular, bowl-shaped in valvular view having broad and flattened anterior end and narrow rounded posterior end. 4-5 prominent sutural edge markings (parietal folds) are present around the posterior margin of shell valves. In some spores, 7-8 sutural edge markings are also present all around the circumference. Polar capsules are two, equal measuring 3.3 × 3.1 μm, running parallel to each other, bottle-shaped with fine ducts opening divergently at the anterior corner of the spore. A very large intercapsular process is present. Spores of the second species,Triangula ludhianae(syn.M. ludhianaeGupta and Khera, 1991) measure 8.4 × 6.9 μm, conical in valvular view having broad and flattened anterior end and narrow blunt posterior end. Polar capsules are two, large, equal, measuring 3.3 × 3.0 μm and bottled-shaped with fine ducts opening wide apart at the anterior corners of the spore. An intercapsular process is absent but a crescent-shaped depression is present at the anterior end in the intercapsular space. In the present study,M. ludhianaeis transferred to the genusTriangulaon the basis of spore morphology.