First report of Ichthyobodo necator, a flagellate protozoan parasite from Schizothorax niger of the River Jhelum in the Kashmir Himalayas, India

Abstract

Ichthyobodo necator obtained from skin during a parasitological survey was conducted for the detection of ectoparasites in Schizothorax fish species of the River Jhelum, Kashmir, India, during the period of six months. Out of 290 collected fish samples, one fish was found to be infected with I. necator (flagellate protozoan parasite). The most common deteriorating indicators found in the skin tissue during this study was the destruction of epidermis and vacuoles in the epidermal cells, significant hyperplasia of the goblet cells. Epidermal cells were seen to have lost their interlinking cell membranes, and the outer surface layers of the epidermis occasionally seemed to slough. In addition to this, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to provide a detailed morphological examination and deeper exploration of the intricate relationship between parasite and host. The SEM images clearly reveal comma shaped I. necator organisms attach to the host cell through an attachment disc. These observations are based on histopathological observations of a single individual. The findings presented here contribute not only to the knowledge of parasite diversity in the Kashmir Himalayas but also serve as a foundation for future research on the ecology, biology, and management of freshwater ecosystems. This is the first record of the flagellate protozoan fauna of the Schizothoracines from Kashmir valley, India.