Pakistan J. Parasitol., 70; December 2020: 11-16

NEW RECORD OF SPINITECTUS (NEMATODA: CYSTIDICOLIDEA) FROM

NOTOPTERUS NOTOPTERUS (OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES: NOTOPTERIDAE) IN

RIVER INDUS, SINDH, PAKISTAN

Reena Sethar

1, Nadir Ali Birmani

1* and Muhammad Moosa Abro

2

1Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

2Department of Zoology, Government College University Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

*Corresponding author: birmani.nadir@usindh.edu.pk; birmani@gmail.com

Abstract

Host Notopterus notopterus (Osteoglossiformes: Notopteridae) were collected from river Indus at Hyderabad for the

presence of nematode parasites. A total of 33 hosts were collected and examined. Gut contents revealed the presence of

nematodes belonging to genus Spinitectus Fourment, 1883 from stomach of only two hosts. Nematodes include four

females and three males. These specimens are dissimilar to each other, hence placed as Spinitectus sp. 1 and Spinitectus

sp. 2. Previously this genus was recorded from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and India. In Pakistan, this genus is

previously reported from Punjab province. However, present specimens are recorded from the river Indus at

Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.

Keywords: Fish nematode, Spinitectus, Notopterus notopterus, river Indus, Sindh.

INTRODUCTION

A good number of freshwater fish fauna is found in the Indus river. Among them dense population of

Notopterus notopterus is also observed. Notopterus notopterus commonly known as Bronze feather back or

Knifefish is found all over freshwater bodies of Pakistan including delta, stagnant water, ponds and rivers. It is a

carnivorous and commonly feeds on insects, fishes, crustaceans and occasionally on young roots of aquatic plants. It

is commonly consumed as a food by local people because of its good taste and high nutritional value. Some reports

are available on helminth parasites of Notopterus notopterus from the world including Karve and Naik (1951),

Baylis (1939), Khera (1953), Chakravarty and Majumdar (1962), Ali (1956), Chakravarty et al. (1961), Kalyankar

(1970) and Gupta and Verma (1970). These studies indicate the presence of parasite in N. notopterus. In present

study seven specimens of genus Spinitectus Fourment, 1883 were recorded from the two hosts. Moreover, genus

Spinitectus contains good number of species collected from marine and freshwater fish. This genus has been

recorded from some freshwater fishes of Indo-Pakistan. Present study reports the genus Spinitectus from Notopterus

notopterus from the Indus river at Hyderabad, Sindh.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 33 live Notopterus notopterus were collected during December, 2017 to November, 2018 from river

Indus at Hyderabad for the presence of nematode parasites.

Host fishes were bought in the Parasitology laboratory of department of Zoology, University of Sindh for

further examination. Hosts were dissected and nematodes were collected from stomach of only two host fishes. Live

nematodes were put in the hot 70% ethanol to kill them. Temporary slides were made in glycerine and lactophenol.

Diagrams were drawn with the help of Olympus BH2-DA drawing tube attachment. Photographs were prepared

with OMAX Digital Trinocular LED Microscope with 10MP Digital USB Microscope Camera. Measurements are

given in millimeters (mm). The specimens were identified with the help of keys and literature. Slides are deposited

in the Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

TAXONOMY SUMMARY

Family: Cystidicolidae Skryabin, 1946

Genus: Spinitectus Fourment, 1883

Species: Spinitectus sp.1 & Spinitectus sp. 2

Host: Notopterus notopterus

Total hosts examined: 33

mailto:birmani.nadir@usindh.edu.pkmailto:birmani@gmail.com

Sethar et al

12

Total hosts found positive: 2

Site of infection: Stomach

Locality: River Indus, Hydrabad, Sindh, Pakistan.

Status: New locality record

RESULTS

During the present study, a total of 33 hosts Notopterus notopterus were examined. Among these, only two

were found harbouring seven nematodes belonging to genus Spinitectus. These Spinitectus specimens (three male

and four female) were recovered from the stomach of the host fishes.

Spinitectus sp. 1 (Fig. 1 and 2).

DESCRIPTION (based on three male specimens): Body small, whitish, cylindrical, measuring 3.131 X 0.387.

Anterior end cylindrical and posterior part broader. Cephalic region with four labia and oral opening. Pseudolabia

prominent. Cuticle armed with transverse circles of spines which are posteriorly directed; almost 200 circles of

spines are present; first two circles ordinarily close to each other containing almost 58-60 spines divided into two

semi-circles which contain 29-30 spines each. Spine measuring 0.007-0.018. Some incomplete circles of pines

present anteriorly. Spines are close together, decreasing in number and size posteriorly; spinulation of male

extending posteriorly to about 2/3rd

of body length and visible under light microscope. Dim cephalic observed at

base of the psuedolabia. Oesophagus clavate and clearly divided into glandular and muscular parts, measuring 0.315

X 0.07 and 0.512 X 0.04 respectively. Nerve ring encircles muscular oesophagus. Excretory pore not visible. Caudal

papillae present in 9-10 pairs. Two unequal spicules present; left spicule measuring 0.494 and right spicule 0.276;

tail conical measuring 0.082.

Spinitectus sp. 2 (Fig. 3 and 4).

DESCRIPTION (based on four female specimens): Body small, whitish in colour, elongated, measuring 4.98 X

0.095 in size. Cephalic end rounded and tapering at posterior end. Cuticle possesses non-interrupted circles of spines

and some subsequent circles are incomplete; initial two circles of spines very close to each other than succeeding

circles; first circles possess 20-23 spines and 10-11 spines in a semi-circle; spines measuring 0.009-0.01 in size. Oral

aperture oval, surrounded by four low labia. Oesophagus commencing at 3rd

circle of spines where muscular part,

0.28 long is clearly separated from posterior glandular part, 0.918 long. Vulva un-extruded, located in hind portion

of body. Vagina muscular, directed anteriorly from the vulva. Fully grown ova filling entire uterus, smooth and

thick-walled. Tail pointed 0.086 long.

DISCUSSION

Morphological features of collected specimens resemble genus Spinitectus in having small medium body,

annulations bearing spines, oesophagus divided into two parts i.e. muscular anterior and glandular posterior one, thin

cuticle and unequal spicules. A good number of species of genus Spinitectus are reported from fishes. These include

S. cristatus Railliet & Henry, 1915 originally reported by Linton (1901) from Phycis tenuis (=Urophycis tenuis)

from Americas Atlantic coast (Arai and Smith, 2016); S. echenei Parukhin, 1967 from the host Echeneis naucrates;

S. gabata Poinar et al., 2014 from the deep sea oarfish, Regalecus russelii (Regalecidae) in Japan; S. gigi Fujita,

1927 from the host Catfishes in central China (Moravec et al., 2004); S. guntheri Baylis, 1929 from the host

Synodontis schall of Nigeria (Iyaji and Yaro, 2016) and Synodontis batensoda of Nigeria (Eyo et al., 2013); S.

inermis (Zeder, 1800) from the host Anguilla anguilla of Europe (Saraiva et al., 2002); S. oviflagellis Fourment,

1883 from the host Gadus merlangus (Rahman, 1964) and Macrourus berglax of eastern Greenland Sea (Moravec

and Klimpel, 2007); S. tamari Naidenova, 1966 from the host Gobius batrachocephalus and Gaidropsarus

mediterraneus of Black Sea and S. thaiensis Moravec and Yooyen, 2011 from the host Pseudomystus siamensis of

Thailand.

Boomker and Puylaert (1994) enlisted species of Spinitectus Fourment, 1883 from freshwater fishes of Africa

including S. allaeri Campana-Rouget, 1961; S. thurstonae Ogden, 1967; S. menzalei Hugot, 1979; S. polli Campana-

Rouget, 1961; S. petterae Boomker, 1993; S. zambezensis Boomker, 1993 and S. mormyri Campana-Rouget, 1961.

Some species of genus Spinitectus reported from India include S. mastacembeli Karve and Naik (1951) from the

host Mystus vittatus and S. notopetri Karve and Naik (1951) from the host Notopterus notopterus; S. bengalensis

NEW RECORD OF SPINITECTUS (NEMATODA: CYSTIDICOLIDEA) 13

Chakraventry et al. (1961) from the host Notopterus notopterus; S. alli Agarwal (1965) and S. agarwali Gupta and

Verma (1970) from the host Notopterus notopterus.

Some members of genus Spinitectus reported from Pakistan are namely S. gomalensis Siddique and Khattak,

1984 from Notopterus notopterus; S. seenghalai Zaidi and Khan, 1975 from Mystus seenghala and S. indicus Khan

and Yaseen, 1969 from the host Wallago attu.

In present study male and female specimens were recorded. Both types of specimens differ from each other in

body size, labia, pseudolabia, number and size of spines in each row and shape and size of oesophagus. Hence, both

specimens are dissimilar to each other and do not belong to same species, therefor, placed separately. Moreover, it is

essential for proper identification of a species that male and female specimen should be available. Therefore, authors

designed both types of specimen as Spinitectus sp. 1 and Spinitectus sp. 2. These forms are collected from the host

Notopterus notopterus of the Indus river. Some previous studies have recorded genus Spinitectus from Notopterus

notopterus from various localities of world. It shows the preference of this nematode in the host Notopterus

notopterus. However, it is recorded for the first time from the Indus river at Hyderabad, Sindh province. Hence, it is

new locality record.

Fig. 1: Line diagram of Spinitectus sp. 1. A. Entire body; B. showing spinulation, oesophagus, labia and body spines; C.

Posterior part showing spicules, papillae and posterior tip.

Sethar et al

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Fig. 2: Photograph of Spinitectus sp.1. A. entire male specimen; B. anterior part; C. posterior end showing spicules, papillae and

posterior tip.

Fig. 3: Line diagram of Spinitectus sp. 2. A. showing spinulation and oesophagus, labia; B. entire worm; C. posterior part; D.

Eggs.

NEW RECORD OF SPINITECTUS (NEMATODA: CYSTIDICOLIDEA) 15

Fig. 4: Photograph of Spinitectus sp. 2. A. Anterior part; B. oesophagus enlarged; C. tail region; D. uterus filled

with eggs.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Authors are thankful to HEC, Islamabad for providing funds for the research project # 20-3426, entitled

“Biodiversity of helminth parasites of freshwater fishes of River Indus in Sindh province, Pakistan”. This research

paper is the part of that research project as well as the M.Phil. thesis of the first author.

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(Received in November 2020 and accepted for publication in November 2020)