The occurrence of known Myxobolus and Thelohanellus species (Myxozoa, Myxosporea) from Indian major carps with the description of Myxobolus bandyopadhyayi n. sp. in West Bengal.

Abstract Myxosporean infection of Indian major carps (rohu, Labeo rohita; catla, Gibelion catla; mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala) was examined from two fish farms and two fish markets in West Bengal, India. One Thelohanellus and four Myxobolus species were detected from the fins and scales of the investigated species. Comprehensive morphological and molecular biological studies revealed four already known species, Thelohanellus caudatus from the fins of rohu, Myxobolus dermiscalis from the scales of rohu, Myxobolus chakravartyi from the fins of catla, and Myxobolus rewensis from the fins of mrigal. This study complemented the species description of M. chakravartyi and M. rewensis with the missing molecular data. Moreover, based on morphometrics and ssrDNA sequence data, a new species was documented from the scales of rohu, and named Myxobolus bandyopadhyayi n. sp.