Morpho-molecular Characterization of Proteocephalus vitellaris Verma, 1928 (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea) Infecting a Freshwater Fish, Bagarius yarrelli Sykes, 1839 Inhabiting Harike Wetland, Punjab, India

Abstract

Proteocephalus vitellaris Verma, 1928 infecting  Bagarius yarrelli Sykes, 1839 vern. goonch  inhabiting Harike wetland in Punjab has been  redescribed using integrated morpho-molecular  approach. Up to five worms were collected from  a single host. The total worm length was 27- 42mm having globular and unarmed scolex  distinctly separated from the neck. Apical sucker  was conspicuous, measure 128-160×153-240µm in  size, other suckers four in number, bilateral in  position and measure 118-144×88-128µm in size.  Strobila consisted of 80-85 proglottids with  distinct segmentation throughout. Testes small,  rounded in shape and 80-90 in number, placed  laterally, ovary bilobed, situated at the posterior  margin of the proglottid and measure 50- 140×166-288µm in size with oviduct arising from  the middle, genital pore irregularly alternate,  oval in shape, at the centre of the lateral margin  of the proglottid, vitellaria follicular oval to  rounded, occupying lateral margins of the whole  length of the mature proglottid. The present  specimens were closely compared with two  already known species from India i.e. P. ritaii Verma, 1926 and P. vitellaris infecting Rita rita and Bagarius yarrelli respectively and were  considered to be closest to the later using various  morphological and morphometrical attributes.  Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA and  ITS2 were made using Mega 6.0 software. Earlier,  this species was recorded from the same host at  Allahabad (U.P), India. In the present paper, P.  vitellaris has been redescribed morphologically as  earlier description was deficient and at the  molecular level using 18S rRNA and ITS2  markers.