Molecular and phylogenetic characterization of Qadri, 1962 (Cnidaria, Myxosporea, Bivalvulida) infecting the fin of Indian minor carp (Hamilton, 1822).

A myxozoan parasite belonging to the genus Kudo, 1933 (Cnidaria, Myxosporea, Bivalvulida) was isolated from the fins of inhabiting Ranjit Sagar Wetland, Punjab, India. The plasmodium was 0.5-0.7 mm in diameter each containing 80- 100 number of myxospores. Myxospores were egg shaped to ovoidal in valvular view having bluntly pointed anterior and broad rounded posterior end measuring 8.36x 4.77 µm. Polar capsule was single, broadly pyriform in shape, measuring 4.77x3.98 µm in size containing a polar filament coiled perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of myxospore body making 7-9 turns. Blast analysis of 18S rDNA sequence of the isolate demonstrated 98% homogeneity with sp. (KU155561, Unpublished), followed by 91% with (KM252684) and sp. FCO (KR819273). The intensity of infection was recorded to be light as indicated by fin plasmodial index (FPI = 1). In the present study, has been described using 18S rRNA gene and phylogenetic analysis using MEGA.6.