First report on molecular evidence of Tylodelphys cerebralis (Diplostomulum cerebralis) Chakrabarti, 1968 (Digenea: Diplostomidae) from snakehead fish Channa punctata.

Freshwater snakehead fish, Channa punctata (Perciformes: Channidae) from Meerut (U.P.), India were screened for infection with metacercaria from the eye (vitreous humor) and brain (cranial cavity) and were analyzed by molecular methods using PCR and sequencing of the complete internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) of the ribosomal RNA gene. Recovered metacercariae from sites, vitreous humor and cranial cavity were previously diagnosed as Diplostomulum cerebralis Chakrabarti, 1968 on the basis of morphological characteristics. A combination of molecular methods in this study depicts that this is a species of genus Tylodelphys Diesing, 1850 which was misinterpreted as Diplostomulum. Hence, in this study, we validated the status of T. cerebralis (=D. cerebralis) after 49 years from its original description. The present work might contribute to expand our knowledge for identification, biodiversity and taxonomy of diplostomids in Indian fishes.