Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Myxobolus planilizae n. sp. (Cnidaria; Myxosporea; Myxobolidae) Infecting the Largescale Mullet Planiliza macrolepis (Smith, 1846) Collected From Cochin Backwaters, India

Myxobolus planilizae n. sp. is described from the intestinal muscles of the largescale mullet Planiliza macrolepis from Cochin backwaters, Kerala, India.Host fishes inhabiting Cochin backwaters were collected using Chinese nets/gill nets. The morphometry and morphological studies were carried out using Nomarski differential interference contrast (DIC) optics, followed by molecular and phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit ribosomal DNA gene (SSU rDNA). Plasmodia small, pale white, and infect the muscles of the intestine; measured 0.13–0.22 (0.17) × 0.09–0.14 (0.13) mm. Mature myxospores pyriform in valvular view, and biconvex in sutural and apical views with a short anterior extension, and measured 7.45–8.75 (8.40) × 6.04–6.86 (6.25) µm. Shell valves with sutural ornamentations. Polar capsules two, equal, pyriform, measured 3.96–4.54 (4.45) × 2.22–2.94 (2.52) µm. Polar filament arranged in five coils, measured 24.41–34.44 (28.52) µm when extruded. In morphological and morphometric analysis, the present species exhibit remarkable variations from other species of the genus Myxobolus. In molecular analysis, the present species revealed the highest identity of 91.85% and divergence of 9.95% with related species, underlining its molecular uniqueness. In phylogenetic analysis, species of Myxobolus infecting mullets appeared as a separate clade and the present species was positioned distinctly with a high bootstrap value