Deformities in Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham. -Buch.) Cultured in Fish Ponds of District Kathua, Jammu Region, of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir

Seventeen adult anomalous specimens of Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.-Buch.)were seen among fish collections from freshwater fish ponds of Kathua district and have been elaborated. Morphological deformities observed are truncated body with dorsal protuberance (twelve specimens), post dorsal truncated body with a depression on left side (one specimen), curved trunk (one specimen), injured truncated caudal peduncle (two specimens) and highly truncated deflexed caudal peduncle and aberrant anal and caudal fin (one specimen). Radiological study has revealed various vertebral anomalies viz. lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, ankylosis, trough, vertebral overlapping and duplication. Multiple factors known to induce anomalies in fishes have also been described.

Keywords: Cirrhinus mrigala; Morphological and skeletal deformities; Kathua; Fish ponds; Multiple factors

Cirrhinus mirgala, a major Indian carp, is well distributed in rivers, streams and ponds of district Kathua of Jammu region [1-2]. In district Kathua, in order to increase fish production in inland waterbodies, various ponds have been renovated, under Central Govt. sponsored schemes, and stocked with Indian, including C. mrigala, and exotic carps. During the present survey seventeen deformed specimens of C. mrigala (Ham.-Buch.) were seen along with normal specimens and have been described. Teratology in natural and reared C. mrigala has earlier been reported [3-11] and their frequencies are rapidly increasing in cultured waters. These malformed fishes have unattractive shape, poor growth, low survival percentage and low price in fish market and are a big loss to the aquaculturists. There is no immediate record of human health problems by consumption of deformed fishes but due to rising water pollution may be a serious concern in future. The purpose of this study is to identify/diagnose the deformities and there causes among pond cultured fishes in Jammu region.

Seventeen deformed specimens of C. mrigala were noticed among fish collections made by fishermen from fish ponds, Kathua district. These were studied for morphological characteristics, parasitic infestation and photographed. For radiological observations, deformed and normal specimens were X-rayed (AGFA). For water quality analysis samples from various fish ponds were collected in plastic containers and analyzed by standard methods [12].

Normal Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham. Buch.)

Body is streamlined. Dorsal fin installation is more towards snout tip than caudal fin base. There is a wide space between longest pectoral fin ray and pelvic fin origin, pelvic fin ray and anal fin origin and anal fin ray and caudal fin base (Figure 1a). X-ray analysis has revealed the presence of 35 amphicoleous vertebrae, after complex vertebrae, in streamlined vertebral column. Air bladder is bilobed, anterior lobe is globular and large and posterior lobe elongated (Figure 1b).

Deformed fishes

Deformities observed in seventeen adult specimens of Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.-Buch.) reared in fish ponds of Kathua district, Jammu region, are described in Table 1 (Figure 2.1a - 2.17b).

Figure 1a: Normal Cirrhinus mrigala.

Figure 1b: Xray photograph of normal Cirrhinus mrigala.

Table 1:Morphological, vertebral and air bladder characteristics of deformed Cirrhinus mrigala collected from fish ponds in Kathua district.

Figure 2.1a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing minor dorsal protuberance.

Figure 2.1b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing Vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.2a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and displacement of pectoral and fins.

Figure 2.2b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing vertebral Lordosis and kyphosis.

Figure 2.3a:Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and displacement of pectoral, pelvic and anal fins./p>

Figure 2.3b: X ray photograph Cirrhinus mrigala showing aminor kyphosis.

Figure 2.4a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protubrance and displacement of pectoral, pelvic and anal fins.

Figure 2.4b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing minor vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.5a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and displacement of pectoral, pelvic and anal fins

Figure 2.5b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing vertebral kypohosis.

Figure 2.6a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing a dorsal protuberance and displacement of pectoral, pelvic and anal

Figure 2.6b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing a minor vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.7a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and minor displacement of pectoral, pelvic and anal fins.

Figure 2.7b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing 13th -16th overlapping vertebrae and vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.8a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and minor displacement of pectoral fins.

Figure 2.8b:X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing minor Vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.9a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and displacement of pectoral and pelvic fins.

Figure 2.9b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.10a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and displacement of pectoral, pelvic and anal fins.

Figure 2.10b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.11a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and displacement of pectoral and pelvic fins.

Figure 2.11b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.12a:Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsal protuberance and left side bulge

Figure 2.12b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing short displaced 17th – 19th vertebrae and vertebral kyphosis.

Figure 2.13a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing injured caudal peduncal, bulbous caudal fin base and displacement of anal fin.

Figure 2.13b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing short and opaque 29th – 30th vertebrae.

Figure 2.14a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing injured truncated caudal Peduncal, compressed caudal fin base and displacement of anal fin.

Figure 2.14b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing undifferentiated and fused 32nd – 35th vertebrae.

Figure 2.15a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing truncated caudal peduncal, a depression on left side and displacement of pectoral, pelvic and anal fins.

Figure 2.15b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing irregular vertebral thickness and fusion.

Figure 2.16a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsally curved trunk and displacement of pectoral, pelvic and anal fins.

Figure 2.16b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing dorsally curved vertebral column and minor kyphosis.

Figure 2.17a: Cirrhinus mrigala showing highly truncated, deflexed caudal peduncal, displaced dorsal and pelvic fins and aberrant anal and caudal fins.

Figure 2.17b: X ray photograph of Cirrhinus mrigala showing vertebral column deformities and abnormal air bladder lobes.

Record of only seventeen adult anomalous specimens of C. mrigala, among about 2000 fish specimens scanned, suggests a negligible percentage (>1%) of deformed fishes in Kathua ponds. This is either because they are less abundant or they have decreased survival as these easily fall prey to predators. Record of these adult deformed fishes suggests that these anomalies are not fatal, feeding is normal and are able to avoid predators. Several factors have been implicated for the appearance of fish deformities. Among abiotic factors alteration in one or more parameters like temperature, light, pH, salinity, low oxygen and inadequacy of key nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus. [12-20] have been attributed to cause fish deformities. Water quality characteristics of various fish ponds in Kathua district (Table 2) suggests that fish anomalies, under discussion, cannot be attributed to variation in abiotic characteristics of water or water pollution [21].

Table 2: Water quality of various fish ponds in Kathua district.

Fish deformities have also been attributed to currents [22,23], cultural techniques [24-26], faulty methods followed in induced breeding [27], intensive rearing [28], stress [29-31], effects of unfavorable environmental conditions [6, 32] and cannot be ruled out in the present case.

Fish anomalies due to inbreeding [33-35] and genetic defects [36-38] are on record. As these abnormal fish specimen were not analysed genetically, hence it could not be ascertained whether these abnormities were hereditary or non-hereditary. Parasitic infection, reported to be a possible factor in development of skeletal malformation by [39-43] is ruled out in the present case as there was no visible infection on any deformed specimen of Cirrhinus marigala.

Fish deformities ascribed to dietary factors [44-46] are unexplainable as there is no detailed analysis of supplementary diet given to these cultured fishes. Two specimens of Cirrhinus mrigala showed injured truncated caudal peduncle (Figure 2.13 - 2.16) and is caused by biological or mechanical injury and wound healing [9,10, 47-48]. Vertebral kyphosis in 12 fish specimens (Figure 2.12) and dorsally curved body in one fish specimen (Figure 2.15) is most probably caused by air bladder deformity [49-51].

Various types of anomalies in Cirrhinus mrigala, under discussion, can also be attributed to pesticides used in surrounding paddy fields and their ground water contamination and use of this contaminated water in fish ponds. Fish anomalies due to pesticides contaminated water/pesticides have also earlier been reported [52- 56]. From the foregoing discussion it is clear that fish deformities are induced by multiple factors. Therefore, more research is needed to exactly identify the factors causing such deformities among cultured fishes.

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