MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR EVIDENCE FOR MYXOBOLUS TOYAMI AS AN EVOLUTIONARY LINK BETWEEN THELOHANELLUS AND MYXOBOLUS GENERA OF MYXOZOAN PARASITES

Myxobolus toyamai is a gills parasite infecting Cyprinus carpio in China, Japan and USA. It has been already known for the controversy for its position between Thelohanellus & Myxobolus. Recently, it was confirmed as Myxobolus spp. after extrusion of the polar capsule, which is an essential attribute for Myxozoan identification. The current article reports the presence of the Myxobolus toyamai in India, through trans-boundary movement of fishes. The present article deals with the host specific tendency and evidence of the dispersion with the help of molecular analysis of the 18S gene, resemblance to other isolates from North America & Japan. In addition, the study also confirms the presence of the second polar capsule through morphological details and extrusion of two polar filaments which supports the species as Myxobolus spp.