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0A study on Cestode Parasites of Corvus Species of Kashmir, India
Javid Ahmad Dar*, Syed Tanveer, Javid Ahmad Kuchai and Shabir Ahmad Dar
Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar-190 006, India Corresponding author's email: javid60@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
During the present study, three species of birds belonging to the genus Corvus namely Corvus monedula, C. splendens and C. macrorhynchos were collected from different localities of Kashmir valley and investigated for the presence of cestode parasites. Anomotaenia galbulae (Gmelin, 1790) Furhrmann, 1932 was recovered from all the three host species. While, Choanotaenia micracantha was recovered only from C. monedula and no specimen of this cestode was obtained from C. Splendens and C. macrorhynchos during the present study. The specimens thus collected were identified as Anomotaenia galbulae and Choanotaenia micracantha on the basis of various morphological and morphometric characters when compared to the known species of genera Anamotaenia and Choanotaenia respectively. However, some intraspecific variations were observed.
Key words: Cestode, Crows, Corvus, Anomotaenia, Choanotaenia, Kashmir, Morphology.
INTRODUCTION
The present study was a part of helminthological investigation carried on three Corvus species (Corvus monedula, C. splendens and C. macrorhynchos) of Kashmir. Corvus monedula Linnaeus, 1758 (Jackdaw)
73°55' and 75°35'E longitudes, covering an area of about 15,948 sq km. It is a deep bowl shaped valley bounded by lofty mountains of the Pir Panjal and the great Himalayan ranges. The floristic and faunal
is a Black-plumaged passerine bird with distinctive white irises (Goodwin, 1983). It is omnivorous and feeds on plant material and invertebrates; Sexes and ages are alike (Lockie, 1956). Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 (House crow) is about 40 cm in length with lighter grey-brown neck and breast. The wings, tail and legs are black. It appears to be associated with humans and no populations are known to exist independently of humans (Nyari et al., 2006). Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827 (Jungle crow) is Large-billed Crow with black glossy wings, tail, face and throat. Systematic knowledge of parasites from birds of Kashmir including Corvus is represented through stray references as is obvious by tracing the historical review of parasites from aves of Kashmir (Gupta, 1967; Fotedar and Raina, 1965; Fotedar et al., 1972; Fotedar and Chishti, 1980; Chishti and Khan, 1982; Khan and Chishti, 1982). Thus a thorough study was undertaken to examine the composition of Helminth Parasites of Corvus species of Kashmir from November 2007 to May 2009.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area
Kashmir valley is a temperate North West Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir State in India. It lies between 33°20' and 34°54'N latitudes and
diversity of the valley is considerably rich owing to its unique topography, temperate climate and geographical isolation from the surrounding plains (Dar et al., 2002).
Collection and Processing of Cestodes
During the present study, 65 birds belonging to three species of Corvus viz., Corvus monedula Linnaeus, 1758; C. splendens Vieillot, 1817 and C. macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827 were caught alive with the help of nylon net traps, locally known as "Walwash' using suitable baits. The hosts were slaughtered and dissected for parasitological investigation and the cestode parasites thus collected were fixed in Cornoy's fixative, stained in Acetoalum carmine and transferred to Xylene for clearing before mounting them in DPX-Dextrine Plasticised Xylene-(Meyer and Olsen, 1975). The drawings of the specimens were made with the help of prism type camera lucida. Measurements were taken with objective and stage micrometers and expressed in mm. The specimens were identified on the basis of various taxonomic characters using Yamaguti (1961) and Chishti (1986). Photomicrography was conducted with the help of Digital Olympus Camera.
RESULTS
The present paper redescribes a total of two cestode species viz., Anomotaenia galbulae and
Ahmad Dar J., Tanveer S., Ahmad Kuchai J. and Ahmad Dar Sh. 2013. A study on Cestode Parasites of Corvus Species of Kashmir, India. J. World's
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Choanotaenia micracantha recovered from three species of crows, collected from Kashmir valley. A detailed morphological and morphometric study of both these species revealed some minor intraspecific variations. The cestode parasites are redescribed as below:
1. Anomotaenia galbulae (Gmelin, 1790; Furhrmann, 1932):
Hosts: Corvus monedula, C. splendens and C. macrorhynchos;
Locality: Kashmir;
Location: Intestine
These parasite species are 56-75 mm in length and 0.88-1.4 mm in maximum breadth. The mature proglottids are 0.40-0.60 mm in length and 0.66-0.80 mm in breadth. Gravid progrottids measure 1.2 - 2.6 mm in length and 0.8 - 1.4 mm in breadth. The scolex measures 0.20-0.26 mm in length upto the base of suckers and 0.36 - 0.44 mm in width across suckers. Rostellum with sac measures 0.27 - 0.32 mm in length and 0.1- 0.14mm in breadth. It bears 22-24 slender hooks arranged in a double crown. The blade of the hooks is smaller than the handle and the guard is a
conical knob-like structure. The hooks measure 34- 40^ and 32-36^ in the outer and inner row respectively. The four suckers measures 0.08-0.13mm in diameter. The testes are rounded 45-54 in number and lie posterior to the ovary. They are bounded laterally by the longitudinal excretory ducts. The vas-deferens is coiled and present in the anterior half of the proglottid. The vesicular seminalis is absent. The cirrus pouch is oval to rounded, cortical in position and measures 0.1-0.16 mm in length and 0.04 -0.05 mm in width. The genital pores are irregularly alternate, may be deeply embedded and present in the anterior 174th to 1/3rd of the proglottid laterally. The ovary was slightly lobulated and measures 0.26-0.30 x 0.12 -0.15 mm in dimensions. The oval receptaculum seminis is presented dorsal to the ovary. The vagina runs behind the cirrus pounch opening posterior to the male genital pore. The irregularly rounded, compact vitelline gland lies posterior to the ovary and measures 0.08-0.12 x 0.06 -0.08 mm.
The eggs measure 47-49^ x 40-43^ and oncospheres are 30^ x 21-23^ in size. The embryonic hooks (oncosphre hooks) are 10-12 ^ in size (Figures 14 and Photomicrographs1-3).
Fig. 3: Mature proglottids showing reproductive organs.
Figs. 1-4: Anomotaenia galbulae (Gmelin, 1790) Furhrmann, 1932.
To cite this paper: Ahmad Dar J., Tanveer S., Ahmad Kuchai J. and Ahmad Dar Sh. 2013. A study on Cestode Parasites of Corvus Species of Kashmir, India. J. World's Poult. Res. 3(1): 28-34.
Journal homepage: http://jwpr.science-line.com/
Pmg. 1: Scolex showing suckers and Pmg. 2: Mature proglottid showing
rostellum with hooks. reproductive organs.
Pmg. 3: Gravid proglottid
Pmg. 1-3: Anomotaenia galbulae (Gmelin, 1790) Furhrmann, 1932.
Table 1: Comparative measurements of Anomotaenia galbulae (Gmelin, 1790; Furhrmann, 1932).
Particulars Cohn (1901) Skrjabin, (1914) Meggitt, (1927) Chishti ( 1974) Present Author
Size of strobila - 113 mm 17 x0.4mm 52-65mm x 1.45mm 56 -75mm x 0.88-1.4mm
Number of Rostellar hooks 21 20 21 24 22-24
Size of Rostellar hooks 36-40^ 36^ 36-40^ 34-42^(outer row) 30-35^(inner row) 34-40^(outer row) 32-36^(inner row)
No. of testes 35-45 50 35-45 55-60 45-54
To cite this paper: Ahmad Dar J., Tanveer S., Ahmad Kuchai J. and Ahmad Dar Sh. 2013. A study on Cestode Parasites of Corvus Species of Kashmir, India. J. World's Poult. Res. 3(1): 28-34.
Journal homepage: http://jwpr.science-line.com/
Table 2: Comparative measurements of Choanotaenia micracantha Chishti et al., 1986 with the present form _(measurements in mm, unless stated otherwise)_
Paticulars Choanotaenia micracantha Chishti et al. (1986) Present Specimens
Strobila 60-80 xl.65 62-76 x 1.30
Scolex 0.24-0.28 x 0.42-0.52 0.26-0.28 x 0.38-0.44
Rostellum with sac 0.30-0.32 x 0.10-0.16 0.32-0.36 x 0.09-0.13
Rostellar hook no. 20 20
Hook size 40-45ц 40-43 ц
Sucker diameter 0.12-0.18 x 0.09-0.12 0.12-0.15
Gravid proglottid 2.8-3.2 x 1.58-1.65 2.2-3.0 x 1.50-1.80
Testes number 55-60 56-64
Cirrus pouch extent Cortical, oval Cortical, oval
Cirrus pouch size 0.08-0.10 x 0.04 0.07-0.12 x 0.05
Position of genital pore 175th 175th
Ovary size 0.52-0.62 x 0.14-0.16 0.46-0.60 x 0.14-0.17
Vitelline gland size 0.15-0.20 x 0.07-0.09 0.12-0.20 x 0.07-0.10
Egg size 48-52 ц x 38-42 ц 49-50 ц x 40 ц
Embryo 30-32 ц x 25-30 ц 29-33 ц x 28-30 ц
Embryonic hook size 12 ц 12 ц
2. Choanotaenia micracantha (Chishti et al.,
1986)
Hosts: Corvus monedula
Locality: Kashmir
Location: Intestine
The parasites measures 62-76mm in length, and 1.30mm in their maximum breadth. In most of the proglottids especially mature and gravid, the posterior margin is broader. Mature proglottids measure 0.841.2mm x 0.95-1.12mm in size. Gravid proglotttids are much longer than broad measuring 2.2-3.0mm in length and 1.5-1.8mm in maximum length. The scolex is more or less rectangular in outline, 0.26-0.28mm in length up to the base of suckers (with rostellum) and 0.380.45mm in breadth across suckers. The rostellum with sac is 0.32-0.36 mm in length and 0.1-0.15mm breadth and bears a single crown of 20 slender hooks each measuring 40-43ц in length. The suckers measure 0.120.15mm in diameter. Testes 55-62 in number, located mostly in post-ovarian field but some may extend to the postero-lateral fields of the ovary. They are rounded and measure 0.06-0.08mm in diameter. The vas-deferens forms a number of tight coils in the anterior region of the proglottid before entering the cirrus pouch. The ductus ejaculatorius is rather slender and shows usually one or two coils. Cirrus pouch is elongated oval in outline and restricted to the cortical region. It measures 0.07-0.1mm in length and 0.04mm in breadth. The vesiculae seminales are absent. Fine hair like bristles protrude out from the genital atrium. The genital pores are irregularly alternate and are located in the anterior 175th of lateral margin of mature proglottid. The ovary is well developed, lies in the anterior half of the proglottid and is bounded by the longitudinal excretory ducts. It is bilobed and is connected by an isthmus. It measures 0.46-0.60mm x 0.14-0.17mm in size. The vagina arises as a simple tube but soon enlarges into an oval or fusiform receptaculum seminis. It runs parallel to the cirrus pouch to open just posterior to the male genital pore. Vitalline gland is compact, lies posterior to the ovary and measures 0.12-
0.20mm x 0.07-0.10mm in size. The gravid proglottids are compactly filled with eggs which measure 48-52^ x 38-42 ^ and their embryo are 30-32 ^ x 25-30 ^ in size with hooks 12 ^ in length (Figs. 5-7 and Pmg.4-6).
DISCUSSION
The differentiating characters of the present Anomotaenia specimens are: 22-24 rostellar hooks arranged in a double crown; the hooks measuring 34-40^ and 32-36^ in the outer and inner row respectively; testes 45-54 in number; cirrus pouch cortical in position; genital pores irregularly alternate situated in the anterior one fourth to one third on the lateral margin of mature progrottids. When compared with the known species of genus Anomotaenia described from different avian hosts, the present specimens show a large similarity of all morphological features with A. galbulae. This species has been redescribed by several authors giving variations in the size of strobila, rostellar hook size and number, and the number of testes (Table 1). This species was recorded earlier by Chishti (1974) in Corvus monedula and C. macrorhynchos from Kashmir. It is evident from the Table 1 that the present measurements also come in the range of those described by various authors. In view of these measurements and other similarities as described above, the present cestode specimens are assigned to Anomotaenia galbulae (Gmelin, 1790; Furhrmann, 1932).
A fairly good number of species of the genus Choanotaenia Railliet, 1896 have been described from avian hosts (Yamaguti, 1961). The present cestode specimens collected from Corvus monedula possess characteristics like single crown of rostellar hooks; craspedote proglottides; testes numerous, posterior to female gonads in intervascular field ; genital pores alternating irregularly; ovary pre-equatiorial, with compact vitelline gland behind; vagina posterior to cirrus pouch and seminal receptacle present. All these characteristics are in conformity with the description of the genus Choanotaenia Railliet (Chishti et al., 1896).
03BB3SE0BSBSSS5B Ahmad Dar J., Tanveer S., Ahmad Kuchai J. and Ahmad Dar Sh. 2013. A study on Cestode Parasites of Corvus Species of Kashmir, India. J. World's Poult. Res. 3(1): 28-34.
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While comparing with the known species of the genus Choanotaenia Railliet, 1896 the present form shows a large similarity of characters with those of C. micracantha Chishti et al. (1986) as regards the size and shape of scolex, number and size of rostellar hooks, extent of cirrus pouch, number of testes etc. However, some intraspecific variations were recorded in different structures as indicated in Table 2. The reason for which could be the age of parasite, host species, intensity of
infection (higher intensity, smaller parasites), methodology (fixation), environmental factors of the study area, body conditions of the host, etc. (Ternopolskaya, 1984; Kuchai et al., 2012). Since these variations are of minor significance, therefore the present specimens, in view of above similarities are assigned to Choanotaenia micracantha (Chishti et al., 1986).
Fig. 5: Scolex showing suckers and rostellum with hooks.
Fig.6: Mature proglottid showing reproductive organs.
Fig. 7: Gravid proglottid
Figs. 5-7: Choanotaenia micracantha Chishti et al., (1986)
Ahmad Dar J., Tanveer S., Ahmad Kuchai J. and Ahmad Dar Sh. 2013. A study on Cestode Parasites of Corvus Species of Kashmir, India. J. World's
Poult. Res. 3(1): 28-34. Journal homepage: http://jwpr.science-line.com/
Pmg. 4: Scolex showing suckers and rostellum with hooks. Pmg. 5: Mature proglottid showing
reproductive organs.
Pmg. 6. Gravid proglottid
Pmg. 4-6: Choanotaenia micracantha Chishti et al., 1986
CONCLUSION
The present paper redescribes only two species of cestode parasites viz., Anomotaenia galbulae and Choanotaenia micracantha recovered from three species of the genus Corvus. This work adds to the parasite species diversity infecting these avian hosts. In addition, the present study showed that Choanotaenia micracantha was recovered only from Corvus
monedula, hence the parasite may be host specific in nature.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank all the members of the Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir who helped during the study.
To cite this paper: Ahmad Dar J., Tanveer S., Ahmad Kuchai J. and Ahmad Dar Sh. 2013. A study on Cestode Parasites of Corvus Species of Kashmir, India. J. World's Poult. Res. 3(1): 28-34.
Journal homepage: http://jwpr.science-line.com/
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THStBS Ahmad Dar J., Tanveer S., Ahmad Kuchai J. and Ahmad Dar Sh. 2013. A study on Cestode Parasites of Corvus Species of Kashmir, India. J. World's Poult. Res. 3(1): 28-34.
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