V ampyrophrya pelagica (Chatton and Lwoff 1930), an apostome ciliate infectious on calanoid copepod from the Northeastern Arabian Sea

Abstract

Abstract Background Zooplankton provides a dynamic habitat to various kinds of epibionts in the marine ecosystem and also forms a source of food and nutrients to various parasites and parasitoids. The study was conducted to identify the association of ciliates with calanoid copepod of Northeastern Arabian Sea. Zooplankton samples collected were analysed under stereomicroscope for any kind of ciliate attachments. The infective stage and major characteristics of the ciliates were discussed. The present observation is the first report of apostome ciliate Vampyrophrya pelagica on calanoid copepod Bestiolina similis from the open ocean waters off Tarapur, Northeastern Arabian Sea, during the early spring intermonsoon season and also a new host record for the ciliate. Results Analysis of ~ 2530 copepod revealed the presence of 12 copepod specimens infested with apostome ciliate Vampyrophrya pelagica. All the host copepod, identified as Bestiolina similis, were females. Approximately 50–60 ciliates occupied the host endocuticular region. V. pelagica was represented by fully grown trophont stage characterized by the presence of a large food vacuole surrounded by a thin layer of cytoplasm with numerous lipid bodies. Conclusion The study establishes a new host record, calanoid copepod B. similis for V. pelagica. The report is the first of its kind from the Indian waters and extends the biogeographic boundary of the apostome ciliate.

Keywords

• Bestiolina similis
• Copepod
• Northeastern Arabian Sea
• Parasitic ciliate
• Vampyrophrya pelagica