Researchers of CUSAT Discover a New Species of Fish Parasite in Indian Ocean

As a tribute to their teacher, Dr. Mohamed Hatha, a group of researchers from the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) recently identified a new species of parasite-fish parasitic isopod, which they have named after him.

Nashad M, Dr. Aneesh PP, Prof Bijukumar A, and Dr. K Bineesh, students and researchers of Dr. Hatha, identified the new species Norileca Hathai in the Indian Ocean. Dr. Hatha is the current head of the CUSAT Department of Marine Biology and has been researching microbial infections for 25 years.

New Species- Norileca Hathai

As per sources, the findings of the new species discovery have been published in the most recent edition of the leading international journal Marine Biodiversity Records.

Nashad described the organism's characteristics as follows: "Norileca Hathai has a pale tan body with thick dark stripes posteriorly and can grow up to 12 to 15 mm in size," he stated. It adheres to the host by pereopods, which are pointy appendages that feed on tish blood without harming the host.

More than fifty parasitic isopod species, according to Nashad, are found in Indian seas, infecting a variety of fish species such as mackerel, sardines, barracuda, and silver bellies.

Dr. Hatha has been investigating microbial pathogens, particularly antibiotic-resistant organisms, their mode of survival, and their spread in different locales for over two and a half decades, according to researcher Aneesh.

As part of his studies on microbial populations in these far-flung arctic locations, he had also visited the North Pole. In 2009, as the leader of the Indian Arctic expedition team, Dr. Hatha made his maiden trip to the poles.

Dr. Hatha has also been named the American Society of Microbiology's Country Ambassador and has received the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship from the US government (ASM). As a token of respect, this same group of researchers had already named another newly discovered species after their study guide, Dr. Bijukumar.