Detection of microsporidia and gregarine from shrimps in Bangladesh

Microsporidian and Gregarine are zoonotic parasites have emerged as a serious pathogen reported to be associated with retarded growth in cultured shrimp in many of the shrimp growing countries in Asia. This study investigated shrimp for the occurance of microsporidian and gregarine parasites in Bangladesh using light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study a total of 50 black tiger (Baghda) shrimp (Paenus monodon) and 40 local shrimp (Prawn small, Deshi Chingri) were collected from Sathkhira and Mymensingh districts respectively. Baghda shrimp reared in river in Sathkhira (Shymnagar Upazila) and small prawn from beal and river of Gouripur upazila of Mymentsingh district. Microsporidia was detected from squash preparation of hepatopancreas of shrimps using microscopy after Giemsa stain and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA extracted from hepatopancreas and guts were subjected to PCR amplification using primers targeting microsporidian and gregarine SSU rRNA and SSU rDNA genes, respectively. The PCR yielded an expected product of ~1100 bp and 1000 bp, respectively.  The microscopic examined revealed the oval shape microsporidian spores. The PCR product of expected band size confirms the presence of microsporidia in shrimp. None of the samples were positive for gregarines. This is the first report of identifying microsporidian parasite in shrimp from South-west region especially Satkhira and Mymensingh districts in Bangladesh.