A note on heavy infection of diplostomid metacercarial cysts in Gar fish, Xenentodon cancila (Beloniformes: Belonidae) from River Penna, Andhra Pradesh, India
*1Anu Prasanna Vankara, 2Mariya Dasu Perli and 3Ravi Teja Venkata Shegu
1,2Department of Zoology, Yogi Vema na University, YSR Kadapa - 516 005 India 3Department of Environmental Science, Yogi Vema na University, YSR Kadapa - 516 005 India Corresponding author: e-mail: annuprasanna@gmail.com Mobile no. 07032825689; ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0286-2387 LiveDna ID: http://livedna.org/91.16872
ABSTRACT
Digeneans of the Diplostomidae are the fish-borne pathogen and a digenetic trematode of birds. The metacercarial forms of these digeneans infect the vital organs such as the liver of the fish. The metacercariae of Neascus hepatica Digenea: Diplostomidae were observed in the liver of the infected adult Gar fish Xenentodon cancila. The gross pathological examination revealed that the liver extremities were severelyinfected with the parasites, almost encompassing the entire organ. With metacercarial cysts embedded in it, only the outline of the liver structure is visible. At the site of parasite attachment, the liver tissue appeared transparent with no cellular organization i.e., parenchymal atrophywas observed. The description of the parasite and its clinicopathology is provided. The finding of the study suggests that infection with this metacercariae severely damages the vital organs, stunts the growth of the fish and inclinesthe fish towards theopportunistic pathogens in the environment.