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Halocercus lagenorhynchi infection in a stranded striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833) on the Southwest coastline of India
Summary
Researchers documented the first confirmed occurrence of the lungworm Halocercus lagenorhynchi in a stranded striped dolphin from Indian waters, using DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis to identify the parasite and establish baseline data on marine mammal parasite diversity along India's coastline.
Necropsy on a striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833) entangled in ghost fishing net and dead while rescuing yielded some helminth parasites, later identified as Halocercus lagenorhynchi. DNA barcoding of the host and parasite and the phylogenetic analysis of the parasite was conducted. This study provides valuable information towards establishing basal data of marine mammal parasite diversity and distribution in the Indian waters. We believe this is the first report of the occurrence of Halocercus lagenorhynchi in marine mammals in India.