Distribution of isopod parasites in commercially important marine fishes of the Miri coast, East Malaysia.

Isopods occur very commonly as parasites in food fishes. Parasitic isopods are typically marine and usually inhabit the warmer seas. They are blood-feeding; several species settle in the buccal cavity of fish, others live in the gill chamber or on the body surface including the fins. Isopods can cause morbidity and mortality in captive fish populations. The infestation usually pressure atrophy often accompanies the presence of larger parasites. The present study was aimed at collecting information on the neglected group of isopod parasites of the marine fishes from the Miri coastal environment, East Malaysia. A very little information available regarding the distribution of isopod parasites of Malaysian coastal environment. In the present study, nine isopod parasites were  oberved from ten marine fish species. The maximum number of parasites were observed in the months of June and October, 2013. Maximum prevalence was observed in October (50 %) and the minimum was observed in June (7.14 %). The parasitic infestation may lead to an economic loss in commercial fish species.

Occurrence of cymothoid isopod from Miri, East Malaysian marine fishes.

To identify the isopod parasite, which has been recorded from Miri, East Malaysian marine fishes. During the present study, four cymothoid isopods are reported three genera, including Cymothoa eremita, Lobothorax typus, Nerocila longispina and Nerocila loveni. Nerocila longispina and N. loveni are also previously reported from Malaysia and two additional cymothoids C. eremita and L. typus are reported for the first record of Miri coast, East Malaysia. New hosts were identified for N. loveni on Chirocentrus dorab for the first time in the world fauna. The Parasitological indexes were calculated. The site of attachment of the parasites on their hosts was also observed. These parasites can cause the damage in gill, eye and internal organ including swim bladder. Marine fish parasitology is a rapidly developing field of aquatic science.

Syndrome of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia: report of six cases.

Syndrome of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia (SCH) is a rare cause of new onset headache. We report six cases of SCH presenting with new onset headache. All six cases were females. Acute onset orthostatic headache and neck pain were the chief characteristics of SCH in our cases. The MRI brain showed pachymeningeal gadolinium enhancement in all patients. Spinal extradural CSF collection was demonstrable on MRI in three cases. All cases improved with conservative therapy. High index of clinical suspicion and contrast enhanced MRI brain is the key to accurate diagnosis in the majority of cases.