Abstrato

Genetic Characterization of Three Species of the Genus Cornudiscoides Kulkarni, 1969 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae), Parasitizing Long Whiskered Cat Fish Sperata aor (Ham) Using Ribosomal and Mitochondrial DNA

Verma Jyoti*, Rajvanshi Saroj and Nirupama Agrawal

Three congeneric species of the genus Cornudiscoides Kulkarni, 1969 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) viz. C. longicirrus, C. aori and C. mystusi, parasitizing gills of Sperata aor were examined. These morphologically valid species were subjected to molecular analysis, using partial 28S, 18S rDNA and Mitochondrial COI gene to characterize them genetically. 28S and 18S ribosomal markers are reliable and useful tools to trace the evolutionary linkage at generic/specific level. Comparative study of 28S and 18S showed close relation of these species with other Cornudiscoides sp. While, mt COI based structural proteomics (1D/2D/3D) confirms species differentiation. Apart from molecular characterization, current study strengthens earlier morphological validation of these three species of Cornudiscoides