The present study was intended to screen the wild crustaceans for co-infection with Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, India. We screened a total of 607 shrimp and 110 crab samples using a specific polymerase chain reaction, and out of them, 82 shrimps (13.5%) and 5 (4.5%) crabs were found positive for co-infection of IHHNV and WSSV. A higher rate of co-infection was observed in Penaeus monodon and Scylla serrata than other shrimp and crab species. The nucleotide sequences of IHHNV and WSSV obtained from crab in this present study exhibited very high sequence identity with their counterparts retrieved from various countries. Histopathological analysis of the infected shrimp gill sections further confirmed the eosinophilic intra-nuclear cowdry type A inclusion bodies and basophilic intra-nuclear inclusion bodies characteristics of IHHNV and WSSV infections, respectively. The present study serves as the first report on co-infection of WSSV and IHHNV in Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, India and accentuates the critical need for continuous monitoring of wild crustaceans and appropriate biosecurity measures for brackishwater aquaculture.

This article examines the non-native fishes in the freshwater bodies of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a focus on understanding the perception of stakeholders towards providing management solutions. A total of 56 freshwater fish species were reported from Andaman and Nicobar Islands of which 23 species were non-native to the Islands introduced either accidentally or deliberately. Among the 23 fishes introduced, 13 species were found to be transplanted from Indian waters into the Islands and 10 species were non-native to Indian waters. Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis), Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), Silver Barb (Barbonymus gonionotus), Red Bellied Pacu (Piaractus brachypomus), and Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) are some of the important invasive species found here. Stakeholder perception studies were undertaken through semi-structured questionnaire and five point likert scale questions. The respondents (N=133) were classified into two groups as a) Fish farmers and b) Research/development personnel. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the profession of the respondents significantly influenced the awareness about the non-native fishes (p<0.001). Fish farmers (4.04±0.04) and Research/development (4.47±0.21) respondents mutually agreed on the need for awareness and education on the issue of non-native fishes (p<0.01). A management framework is suggested to address the issue of non-native fishes towards effective planning, conservation and management of the fragile Island ecosystems.

Background: Studies on the bacterial diseases from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are scanty and have only two reports recorded during 1996 and 1999. A case of emaciation and abdominal dropsy caused by different strains of Aeromonas hydrophila was recorded by earlier workers in the Andaman, Islands. In the present work, a similar disease syndrome was recorded in Barbonymus gonionotus and Cyprinus carpio var. Koi. The present study served to investigate the disease’s cause and the pathogen associated with it. Methods: This study details the isolation, biochemical and molecular characterization of three bacterial pathogens associated with emaciated, tail rot syndrome (ETS) and big belly syndrome (BBS) in B. gonionotus and C. carpio var. Koi respectively. Histology and re-infectivity study was also done for the infected host tissues and with Catla catla fingerlings. Result: This study constitutes the first report of three bacterial pathogens from the Andaman Islands, India viz., Aeromonas veronii, Aeromonas sp. and Pseudomonas alcaligenes causing emaciation and abdominal dropsy, with biochemical, molecular, histopathological and experimental challenge study evidence.

Freshwater turtles are among the least studied faunas in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Here, we report the presence of freshwater turtles (Cuora amboinensis) from Car Nicobar, a small remote island in the Nicobar archipelago comprising the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the people belonging to Nicobarese tribes (n = 233) to gather their local ecological knowledge as supportive information to obtain a better understanding of the status of turtles in Car Nicobar. Most interviewees (90%) opined that freshwater turtles are found to be rare or very rare on the Island. All the respondents (100%) expressed willingness to contribute to future conservation projects. Community-level awareness emerged as a prominent issue for future conservation using the Garrett ranking method. A stream network map was prepared using the digital elevation model to visualize streams and potential habitats of turtles. This report on the freshwater turtles is essential from an ecological perspective since information is scarce on the freshwater turtles in Car Nicobar. This study emphasizes the importance of the engagement of stakeholders in conservation projects and recommends providing adequate attention to the conservation and protection of freshwater turtle diversity in Car Nicobar.