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Indian Express
7 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Indian scientists discover rare marine worm on Tamil Nadu coast
Written by Debasmita Chowdhury Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), led by Dr Anjum Rizvi and researcher Ms Ritika Datta, have identified a new species of marine nematode along the Tamil Nadu coast. This marks only the third globally recorded species of the rare genus Pheronous. The microscopic worm, christened Pheronous jairajpurii, was discovered during field studies on a Tamil Nadu beach. Free-living marine nematodes, according to marine biologists, play crucial roles in maintaining ocean ecosystem health and act as biological indicators for coastal environmental assessment. Until now, the genus Pheronous included only two documented species—one discovered in South Africa in 1966, and another in China in 2015, which was later also reported in Korean waters in 2023. The latest discovery means the Pheronous species spans at least three continents. The newly identified species has been named in honor of the late Professor M S Jairajpurii, a pioneering Indian nematologist who significantly advanced nematode research in India. 'The discovery of Pheronous jairajpurii is a testament to the incredible and often hidden biodiversity along India's vast coastline,' said Dr Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the ZSI. The identification not only expands the known distribution of the Pheronous genus but also highlights the rich biodiversity of Indian coastal waters. Marine scientists emphasize that such discoveries stress the need for systematic exploration and cataloguing of marine life, particularly microscopic organisms that often go undocumented despite their ecological significance. Microscopic analysis revealed distinct morphological traits that set P jairajpurii apart from its South African and Chinese counterparts. Detailed anatomical studies showed unique structural features, including specialised head formations and body segmentation patterns observable under high magnification. The sparse yet widespread pattern of this genus suggests it may have ancient evolutionary origins, with isolated populations emerging across ocean basins over geological timescales. (Debasmita Chowdhury is an intern with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
ZSI study finds human blindness-causing blackfly in rivers flowing through Darjeeling, Kalimpong
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has recently spotted blackflies, which serve as carriers of a worm causing human blindness, in many rivers flowing through the northern parts of West Bengal. Locally called 'pipsa' or 'potu', the blood-sucking flies were found in rivers in areas such as Darjeeling and Kalimpong that serve as the insect's breeding grounds. The finding raises concern as the areas draw many tourists throughout the year. 'Whether Darjeeling or Kalimpong, both places are favourites among Bengalis on the tourism map, making them socio-economically significant. People visit these places throughout the year. Visitors may unknowingly get bitten by these blood-sucking flies while enjoying themselves. Although local people are more vulnerable to these flies, the risk of blindness remains a concern,' Dr Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the Zoological Survey of India. ZSI scientists have, however, confirmed that no individual has so far been diagnosed with the infection called 'river blindness' in the region. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the blindness caused by the worm called Onchocerca volvulus is among the most neglected tropical diseases. 'When these blood-sucking blackflies bite humans, the worms enter the human body from the fly. Initially, the worms form nodules under the skin. As they grow, they travel through the bloodstream to the eyes, ultimately resulting in blindness,' explained a scientist. The first step towards protecting people from the infection is to identify and control the vector – the black fly, and therefore, better identification of the disease carrier is essential for improved treatment, said the scientists at the Diptera division of the ZSI in a statement. 'These black flies of the Simuliidae family are extremely small. They are barely noticeable to the naked eye. Before one realises it, the fly has already sucked blood and departed. Many species in this family look almost identical externally. In scientific terms, distinguishing between two different species of Simuliidae flies based on external characteristics is quite difficult and time-consuming. Sometimes accurate species identification is not even possible,' said Dr Banerjee. Amid rising health concerns posed by the presence of the blackfly, researchers from the Diptera division have used DNA from these flies as a means of identification. The method employed for identifying the flies is called DNA barcoding. Dr Atanu Naskar, scientist at the ZSI's Diptera division, revealed that they conducted their research in eight locations across Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal, which are part of the Central Himalayan region, and collected blackfly samples. After preliminary segregation based on external characteristics, DNA barcoding methods were used to identify the species. Ark Mukherjee, a senior research fellow at the Zoological Survey of India and one of the researchers involved in the blackfly study, explained, 'First, DNA was collected from the legs of the blackfly samples, and then that DNA was barcoded.'
