The first report of an alien parasitic nematode, Camallanus cotti isolated from the wild Giant danio fish, Devario aequipinnatus, (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from southern part of Western Ghats, India

Introduction of alien parasitic nematodes to the wild fish species might result in a severe threat to native species biodiversity including native fish species and native parasitic fauna. In the present study, the invasive Asian nematode, Camallanus cotti (Nematoda: Camallanidae), has been reported for the first time in Giant Danio (Devario aequipinnatus) in the Cauvery river systems of Southern part of Western Ghats, India. The occurrence of this parasite in both aquarium-cultured fish as well as from the natural aquatic bodies dwelling fish is evident of the introduction of the alien organisms due to insufficient prophylactic measures during the transmission of non-native hosts between countries and also the spread of them by the anthropogenic introduction to natural systems.