Additional morphometric and phylogenetic studies on Mothocya melanosticta (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) parasitizing the Red Sea Nemipterus randalli fish in Egypt

AbstractCymothoidae, Leach, 1818 (Crustacea: Isopoda) are ectoparasites of marine, brackish and freshwater fishes that are reported to induce deleterious tissue impacts on the infested fish hosts. The present study aimed for the first-time screening ofMothocya melanosticta collected from the red sea fishNemipterus randalli in Egypt. Surveillance study was conducted for isopod infestation among the Red Sea fishN. randalli revealing a total infestation rate of 40.96% with the species identified asM. melanosticta. The parasite species was isolated from the branchial cavity and gills. Morphometric description was estimated using dissecting stereo-microscope, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) provided new additional features for the isolated species including the microtrich sensillum in the body cuticle and the fine structure of the mouth parts and body appendages. MitochondrialCOI gene ofM. melanosticta female isolated in the present study fromN. randalli was detected for the first time in Egypt and recorded in the GenBank (MK168807). The study showed that the detected isopod species represents one monophyletic group closely affiliated to the genospecies ofM. melanosticta, and can be distinguished clearly from other isopods genospecies. Based on the genetic distance values, lower level of genetic divergence was indicated within the genospecies of the presentM. melanosticta isolated from Egypt and the same species isolated from India. The present investigation recordedN. rand...
Source: Journal of Parasitic Diseases - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research