Occurrence of new Philometra sp. in mangrove red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus from the Karachi coast, Pakistan

Abstract

A recent examination of Philometra nematodes from mangrove red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskal, 1775) from the Karachi coast, Kemari was done in the years 2021–2022. The present study reported three new species of genus Philometra (Costa, 1845) (Nematoda: Philometridae) Philometra kolachii, Philometra lutjani and Philometra kemarii. A total of 140 fish samples were examined, and 76 were infected. The intensity of infected fish was 54.28%. In Pakistan, literature on Philometrid nematodes is limited, therefore, this research would be helpful for the documentation and enhancement of nematods in Pakistan.

New record of Philometra species from the marine edible fish Terapon jarbua collected from the Sindh, Arabian Sea, Pakistan

“…Among the parasitic organisms that inhabit marine, brackish, and freshwater environments, the nematode genus Philometra (Nematoda: Phylometridae) has emerged as an intriguing subject of investigation. These nematodes are commonly found within the body cavities and tissues of fish, potentially exerting deleterious effects on their hosts when present in abundance (Ghaffar et al, 2024). Female specimens are larger than males, and adult nematodes migrate through the intestine wall, inhabiting the swim bladder serosa.…”

“…In cultured fish, however, parasitic diseases are generally more severe, and may cause important economic losses due to stock mortality, declined productivity and reduced marketability and population. Because of difficulties in studying Philometrid nematodes associated with their morphological and biological peculiarities, most of them remain poorly known, and their identification is usually difficult and problematic (Moravec and Justine, 2005;Ghaffar et al, 2024). Gonadinfecting parasitic nematodes of the family Philometridae have been reported to cause significant damage to the gonads of wild and cultured marine perciform hosts with varying consequences including severe reduction in reproductive fitness based on gross and histological pathology and mechanical damage of blood vessels with hemorrhaging and destruction of skeletal joints resulting in poor growth and emaciation (Moravec et al, 2006).…”