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MARINE GREGARINES (APICOMPLEXA): THEIR BIOLOGY, IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL

Mohd Ihwan Zakariah1*, Hassan Mohd Daud2, Mhd. Ikhwanuddin Abdullah1,3, Nor Asma Husna Yusoff 1, Marina Hassan1,3

Gregarine (Apicomplexa) is not a new-fangled topic of study that needs to be discussed nowadays. This research has been explored since the 1700s by European expertise. Gregarines are obligate unicellular parasites that infect the intestines, reproductive organs and body cavities of invertebrates living in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats. These parasites form resistant cysts that appear to be ubiquitously distributed throughout marine, freshwater and terrestrial sediments. The systematics of the group is organized into three traditional categories based more on convenience than phylogenetic relationships: eugregarines, archigregarines, and neogregarines. But lately, this research is become important due to the problem reported by this parasite especially in commercial bivalve i.e., oyster. A preliminary study on gregarine parasite showed a high prevalence of infection in Hairy Cockle (Anadara cornea) from Setiu Lagoon, East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Due to the advanced technologies nowadays, this research regarding these parasites has become relevant to study. This review described the morphology, life cycle, method for identification, parasites transmission and ways for control and prevent this gregarine parasites from spread into aquaculture. Other previous research on other gregarine parasitized hosts also were summarized. Details and diagnoses of these parasites in aquatic animals are crucial to secure the sustainability of aquaculture industries in the future.