Parasitic Infestation of an ornamental fish comet, Carassius auratus L. Imported to Pakistan

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1 BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) 2014, 60 (1), PKISSN (Print) ISSN X (OnLine) Parasitic Infestation of an ornamental fish comet, Carassius auratus L. Imported to Pakistan *ZAFAR IQBAL 1 AND BEENISH GUL REHAMAN 1 Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, QuaidIAzam Campus, Lahore ABSTRACT The present study was designed to investigate parasitic infestation in an imported ornamental fish comet, a variety of goldfish, Carassius auratus. Fifty fishes were examined, of which 46 fishes showed parasitic infection (prevalence 92%). Five species of parasites; two monogenean (Dactylogyrus extensus Muller and Van Cleave 1932 (86.0%), Gyrodactylus Von Nordmann (32%); two protozoan (Ichthyophthiris multifiliis Fouquest, 1876 (14%), Trichodina Ehrenberg 1831 (4%) and a crustacean, fish louse Argulus foliaceus Muller, 1785 (16%) were recorded from fish. Dactylogyrus extensus infection was highest (mean intensity 19.04). No difference in the infection of left and right gills by D. extensus (χ² = 1.02, df = 42, p = 0.05) was found. Severe damage to gill filaments and secondary gill lamellae was observed due to D. extensus attack. Infection of Gyrodactylus sp. on skin and fins caused minor pathological changes. There was no difference in the infection on fins and skin of fish by this fluke (χ² = 2.28, df =16, p=0.05). The prevalence of I. multifiliis was moderate on fins and gills. There was no difference in the infection of fins and gills by I. multifiliis (χ² = 6.03, df = 6, p=0.05). The comet, had high rate of infection (92%). The occurrence of five species of parasites showed that infection to these fishes occurred in the country of origin prior to shipment to Pakistan. The introduction of exotic pathogenic parasites along with their host must be checked so as to, minimize transmission of these parasites into the country. Key words: comet, imported fish, parasitic diseases, gills, fin, skin infection. INTRODUCTION Ornamental fishes are kept as pet worldwide and this is an emerging multimillion dollar industry. Thousands of types of pet fish are kept by hobbyists. The largest part of aquarium fish industry is freshwater aquarium fish sector (Helfman, 2007). Many rural communities in Africa, South America and South East Asia are benefited from this industry. In 2006, the world export of ornamental fish was million US$ (FAO, 2007). Goldfish is the most popular ornamental fish in the world. Many goldfish varieties such as; shubunkin, bubble eye, pearl scale, red cap oranda, telescope eye, lion head, celestial, comet, fantail, veiltail and black moor are produced and available for the hobbyist (Ahilan et al., 2009). Ahmad (1996) reported that 20 species of ornamental fishes are imported live into Pakistan from South East Asian countries and sold at the pet shops to the hobbyists. Although, pet fish trade is beneficial to many countries, yet it may have adverse effects as a result of the introduction of nonnative species and spread of different disease agents (Andrews, 2006). Ornamental fish pathogens such as:, protozoans, Ichthyobodo necatrix I. multifiliis, Trichodina pediculatus., Piscinodinium pillulare, Chilodonella piscicola; mongenean Dactylogyrus vastator, D. extensus, Gyrodactylus sp. like G. crysoleucas, G. elegens, digenean Posthodiplostomum cuticola, crustacean, fish louse Argulus foliaceus and Lernaea cyprinacea spread very quickly in the world because of the commercial gains of the host. It is generally known that external parasites comprise the largest group of pathogens in warm water fish (Snieszko & Axelrod, 1971). The occurrence of parasites and other pathogens on ornamental fishes and their transmission to other places and countries has been reported worldwide; Australia (Evans & Lester, 2001), Korea (Kim et al., 2002), Sri Lanka (Thilakaratne et al, (2003) Brazil (Pizza et al., 2006; TavaresDias et al., 2010); Pakistan (Iqbal et al., 2012; Iqbal & Sajjad, 2013; Iqbal and Mumtaz, 2013; Iqbal & Hussain, 2013; Iqbal et al., 2013a; Iqbal et al., 2013b); Turkey (Kayis et al., 2013). The most common parasites of freshwater fishes are two monogeneans; which are parasites on gills and skin and are narrowly host specific. Dactylogyrus extensus and D.vastator Nybelin 1924 are gill parasites while Gyrodactyus salais Malmberg 1957, G. turnbulli Harris 1986, infect skin and fins. Some protozoan parasites of freshwater fishes are; I. multifiliis, Trichodina sp. Chilodonella sp. Stand 1928; Tetrahymena sp. Ichthyobodo necator Henneguy Most of the ectoparasitc protozoa are commensal but many produce serious diseases and mortality in young fish. Copepod parasites such as: Argulus foliaceus and Lernaea cyprincea L. are common on freshwater fishes and are distributed worldwide (Bond, 2004; Noga, 2007; Rasouli et al., 2012). The present study was aimed to investigate and identify *Corresponding author: dr.zafariqbal.pu@gmail.com

2 104 Z. IQBAL & B. G. REHMAN BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) protozoans and metazoan parasites of a freshwater ornamental fish comet, imported to Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental fish comet was purchased from pet shop in Lahore on monthly basis from July to December The fishes were brought live in sterilized polyethylene bag and kept in glass aquarium in aerated water in Fish Disease and Health Management Lab. The fish were weighed and measured and examined within four hours of arrival in the Lab. for the presence of any parasites or lesions visible to naked eye. The mucus from skin, gills, fins and operculum was scraped with glass slide and then spread carefully with cover slip separately for examination of protozoan and monogenean skin fluke, under compound microscope at x10 and x40 magnification. The fish gills were cut and examined under microscope for monogenean gill fluke. The specimens were preserved in 10% buffered formalin and 70% ethonal for storage before further studies. The crustacean parasites were collected from fins cleaned in saline and preserved in 70% alcohol. The fresh mount preparation technique was applied to observe the motile parasites (Post, 1987). The identification of parasites was done after Kabata (1985) and Lome & Dykova (1992). Chisquare test was applied to check difference in infection level on gills, skin and fins. RESULTS A total of 50 fishes were examined for parasitic infection. The total length and body weight of the fish ranged from cm and g. Out of 50 fish, the number of infected fish varied for each type of parasitic infection (Table 1). Five species of parasites belonging to three groups, monogenean: (Dactylogyrus extensus, Gyrodactylus sp.), protozoans (Ichthyophthiris multifiliis, Trichodina sp.) and a crustacean (Argulus foliaceus) were recovered from the fish. The site of infection varied for each species of parasite. The prevalence, mean intensity and total number of parasite of each species are given in Table 1. High prevalence and mean intensity was observed for D. extensus. The maximum D. extensus recorded from one fish was 105 and a total of 819 parasites were recovered from gills. Left gills carried 389 and right side gills carried 430 parasites. There was no difference in infection site in both gills (χ² = 1.02, df=42, p = 0.05). Infection caused mild to serious gill pathology in infected fishes. There was localized damage on gills at the point of attachment of the parasites. The primary and secondary lamellae were severely damaged. Uniform hyperplasia was observed in secondary lamellae. The prevalence of Gyrodactylus sp. was lower than that of D. extensus. Both fins and skin were attacked by Gyrodactylus sp. No inflammatory response was observed on skin. However, mild erosion at the tips of caudal fins of fish was observed. There was no difference in infection of fins and skin by Gyrodactylus (χ² = 2.28, df=16, p=0.05). The prevalence of I.multifiliis was low on gills and high on skin (Table 1). There was no difference in infection of gills and skin by I. multifiliis (χ² = 6.03, df = 6, p=0.05). The prevalence of A. foliaceus was low and the infection was very mild and not serious to the fishes. Trichodina sp. was recorded from caudal fins of two fish. Infection was not pathogenic. The species wise parasitic attack on fish was variable. There were 22 cases of single species infection on a fish; of which 19 ceases were of D. extensus; 3 cases were of I. multifiliis. Two parasites species infection on one host comprised 16 cases, which formed three combinations like: D. extensus Gyrodactylus sp., (9 cases); D. extensus A. foliaceus (5 cases). D. extensus Trichodina sp. (2 cases). Concurrent infection of three parasites on one host (D. extensus Gyrodactylus sp. I. multifiliis) comprised four cases (Table 2). It was very clear that D. extensus load was maximum followed by I. multifiliis, Gyrodactylus sp., A. foliaceus and Trichodina sp. DISCUSSION In the present study comet fish was examined for parasitic infection. Dactylogyrus extensus showed the highest prevalence and mean intensity, which may be associated with high reproductive rate of this parasite. It has direct life cycle, which facilitates it to spread rapidly in fish ponds and aquariums. The transmission of these parasites increase in those fishes which are reared under poor ponds conditions (Thilakaratine et al., 2003; Woo, 2006). Dactylogyrus extensus infection on gill damages the gill epithelium and make opening for secondary infections (Post, 1987). Heavy gill infection by Dactylogyrus produces multiple symptoms on gills such as; injuries on gill surface, mucus production and lamellar hyperplasia. The gill infection causes impairment of respiration by gills and in such condition fish become very stressful. Shamsi et al., (2009) reported 18 species of genus Dactylogyrus including D. extensus, D.vastator from introduced and imported cyprinid fishes in Iran. The infection of D. extensus in comet may also be attributed to its low host specificity and high tolerance to a wide range of temperature and

3 VOL. 60 (1) PARASITIC INFESTATION OF CARASSIUS AURATUS L 105 salinity. Being least hostspecific species it is recorded from 19 genera of fish species. Gyrodactylus sp. showed low infection in comet and is less pathogenic compared to Dactylogyrus sp. Hence, the damage to scales and epithelium may be considered as mild. However, the fish infected by Gyrodactylus sp. may develop whitish area of mucus on the skin. The results of present study are comparable to TavaresDias et al., (2010), Chanda et al., (2011); Iqbal & Hussain (2013). Ichthyophthirius multifiliis prevalence was low but mean intensity was high. Gill infection by I. multifiliis results in damage to gill tissue and respiratory stress (Raissy et al., 2010). This parasite is widely spread in the world and almost all the fish are susceptible to infection. TavaresDias et al, (2010), Chanda et al., (2011), Iqbal & Hussain (2013) also recorded high mean intensity of I. multifiliis in ornamental fishes. However, Iqbal & Hussain (2013) reported I. multifiliis in shubunkin from gills only. Being a low host specific parasite I. multifiliis is wide spread. Trichodina sp. was found with lowest prevalence and mean intensity. It is very common pathogenic parasite of both freshwater and marine fish (Thomas & Wellborn, 1967). Thilakaratine et al., (2003) reported that Trichodina is neither host nor site specific. In contrast to our findings, high mean intensity of Trichodina sp. was reported by Thilakaratine et al, (2003), TavaresDias et al, (2010) and Iqbal & Hussain (2013) in S. No Parasite ornamental fishes. High infection is associated with its reproduction by binary fission (Ogut & Palm, 2005). Argulus foliaceus is a common parasite of cyprinids and very low infection was observed in comet. Infection causes ulceration on the skin of the host and facilitates other pathogens to attack the host through ulcers. Iqbal et al., (2013a) reported low prevalence and mean intensity of A. foliaceus in koi, Cyprinus carpio and black moor C. auratus. Attack of Argulus per C.carpio may cause mortality even in this fish and other carps (Pekmezic et al., 2009; Chanda et al., 2011). Infection of comet by different species of parasites may be explained by variable susceptibility of host to each parasite species. It is assumed that the infected fish might have accidentally escaped into the imported fish consignment. Moreover, probably the checking of fishes for overseas destination is not done carefully. The import of infected ornamental fish may create critical situation for the local pet fish and growing fish farming industry in Pakistan. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that strict regulations on import of live fish must be implemented. Fish quarantine system and inspection of imported fish must be made mandatory. ACKOWLEDGEMENT We are grateful to the University of the Punjab for providing funds for this study under faculty development Program Table 1: Parasitic infection in comet, Carassius auratus Fish Infect. Prev. (%) Total and rang of parasites Mean intensity Site of infection Gills Skin Fins 1 D. extensus (1105) Gyrodactylus sp (15) I. multifiliis (23) 41(57) A. foliaceus (12) Trichodina sp Table.2: Different combinations of mixed parasitic infection in comet, Carassius auratus S. No No. Parasite No. of D.extensus Gyrodactylus sp. Trichodina sp. A. foliaceus I. multifiliis sp./fish Fish Rg. Lg. Skin fins Fins Fins gills skin Total

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