Morphological Identification of Bolbosoma turbinella (Acanthocephala) in Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) from Straits of Malacca, Malaysia

Abstract

Highlight • Identification of Morphological characteristic of the Bolbosoma sp. • Genetic confirmation of the specific species of Bolbosoma turbinella. • The first report in Straits of Malacca. • Health status of Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis). Abstract The study of ectoparasite and endoparasites of marine mammals are not habitually done because some species are endangered and protected by law. A stranded Sei Whale, Balaenoptera borealis (Anderson, 1878) from the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia was examined for endoparasites. The objective of this study is to identify the species of acanthocephalan in the intestine of the Sei Whale found in the straits of Malacca. A total of ten parasite specimens were collected from the fresh intestine, and were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for further histological procedures. The morphological features of this parasite viewed under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) are referred to as the proboscis armature and variations in the spination of the area between the anterior and posterior cephalic bulb. Genomic DNA extracted by using QIAGEN DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit DNA and sequenced with First Base Sequencer showed that this species belonged to Bolbosoma turbinella. This was the first record of a sei whale carrying the endoparasites Bolbosoma turbinella, in Malaysian waters.

Keywords

• sei whale
• balaenoptera borealis
• endoparasites
• bolbosoma turbinella
• genetic identification
• morphological study