First Record of an Anomalous Catla catla ( Ham . Buch ) in Fresh Water Fish Ponds of Gurdaspur District , Punjab ( India )

Since the pioneering report of deformed Catla catla by Hora [1] and Law [2] there have been a few records of deformities by Bhattacharya [3], Pillai and Thampy [4] for this fish from Indian waters. In Punjab state, where there is extensive fish culture in fish ponds, there is no work available on teratology of Catla catla. In this communication morphological and skeletal deformities observed in two adult specimens of this fish are described for the first time.


Introduction
Since the pioneering report of deformed Catla catla by Hora [1] and Law [2] there have been a few records of deformities by Bhattacharya [3], Pillai and Thampy [4] for this fish from Indian waters.In Punjab state, where there is extensive fish culture in fish ponds, there is no work available on teratology of Catla catla.In this communication morphological and skeletal deformities observed in two adult specimens of this fish are described for the first time.

Materials and Methods
Two deformed specimens of Catla catla, cultured and imported from Gurdaspur fish ponds, Punjab, were purchased at Gumat fish market, Jammu, and studied for morphological characteristics, morphometric examination and radiological examination (Fuji green base film with SEMIN 100 MA, X-ray machine, at 10 millions and 50 KV for 0.25 sec.)

Observations
Two aberrant specimens of Catla catla (Ham.Buch) seen along with normal fish specimens are described as under:

Catla catla (Ham. Buch) showing post dorsal depression and disposition of fins
Measuring 44.8 cm and weighing 951 g, this aberrant adult specimen of Catla catla (Ham.Buch) was identified by post dorsal depression and disposition of fins.Like a normal fish, the dorsal fin placement is more towards the caudal fin base than the snout tip.In this aberrant fish, pectorals extend pelvics base, pelvics extend almost the anal fin base and the latter extends beyond the caudal fin base.Contrary to this, in a normal fish the longest pectoral fin ray falls short of pelvic fin origin, longest pelvic fin ray falls short of anal fin base and longest anal fin ray falls short of caudal fin base.The caudal fin is bilobed.Like a normal fish, number of lateral line scales are 42 in this deformed specimen.Body scales in post dorsal region are, however, short and overlapping (Figure 1a).
X-ray analysis of normal fish reveals a stream lined vertebral column having 35 normal amphicoelous vertebrae (Figure 1b).There are 34 amphicoelous vertebrae in this deformed fish (Figure 2a).Some deformities in the vertebral column placement and vertebral structure in this aberrant fish are given as under: First Record of an Anomalous Catla catla (Ham.Buch) in Fresh Water Fish Ponds of Gurdaspur District, Punjab (India)    • Placement of vertebral column between 1 st to 10 th vertebrae, after the complex vertebrae, is like a normal fish.
• Between 11 th to 22 nd vertebrae, vertebral column is directed downwards producing a shallow V shaped structure (lordosis) with normal posterior vertebral column.11 th and 16 th vertebrae undifferentiated and 13 th to 16 th vertebrae opaque (ankylosis).
• Vertebral column between 19 th to 34 th vertebrae normal.
• Urostyle and caudal bones are normal.
In this aberrant fish, unlike bilobed airbladder in a normal fish (Figure 1b) anterior lobe is normal and posterior lobe is rudimentary (Figure 2b).
From X-ray analysis it is clear that curved post dorsal body is caused by lordosis and undifferentiated 11 th to 16 th vertebrae.

Catla catla (Ham. Buch) showing abnormal height, highly truncated post dorsal body and disposition of fins
This aberrant specimen of Catla catla (Ham.Buch), measuring 42 cm and weighing 900 g,was recognized by multiple aberrations viz.abnormal body height, highly truncated post dorsal body and disposition of paired viz.pectoral and pelvic and unpaired fins viz.dorsal and anal (Figure 3a).Dorsal fin placement is like a normal fish.In a normal fish, there is a wide space between the tip of the longest pectoral fin ray and the pelvic fin origin, tip of the longest pelvic fin ray and the anal fins origin and tip of the longest anal fin ray and the caudal fin base.In this abnormal fish, pectorals extend pelvics base, pelvics extend almost the anal fin base and the latter extends beyond the caudal fin base.Lateral line scales are 42 in both normal and abnormal fish.Lateral line in this deformed fish is irregular in the post dorsal region.Body scales in post dorsal region are short and overlapping.
Like a normal fish, as reveal by the X-ray, there are 35 amphicoelous vertebrae in the vertebral column.(Figure 1b and Figure 3b).There are some deformities in the vertebral column placement and vertebral structure in this deformed fish and are given as under:- • Placement of vertebral column and vertebral structure between 1 st to 12 th vertebrae, after the complex vertebrae, is normal.
• Between 12 th to 35 th vertebrae, vertebral column is irregular having dome, trough, (kyphosis) and a semilunar shape and is elaborated as under:-Vertebral column between 12 th to 18 th vertebrae forms a dome (kyphosis) in which: • Vertebral column between 12 th and 13 th vertebrae forms the anterior side of the dome.Vertebral thickness and inter vertebral spaces reduced.
• Vertebral column between 14 th to 16 th vertebrae forms the roof of the dome.Vertebral thickness and intervertebral spaces reduced.
• Vertebral column between 17 th to 18 th vertebrae represents the posterior side of the dome.Intervertebral spaces not clear.
Vertebral column between 17 th to 25 th vertebrae, along with the posterior side of anterior dome, forms a trough (lordosis) in which: • Vertebral column between 17 th to 19 th vertebrae represents anterior side of trough.Vertebrae short and intervertebral thickness not clear.
• Vertebral column between 20 th and 22 nd vertebrae represents the semicircular base of trough.Vertebral thickness reduced and intervertebral spaces not clear.
• Vertebral column between 23 rd to 25 th vertebrae forms the posterior side of the trough.Vertebral thickness reduced and intervertebral spaces not clear.
Vertebral column between 24 th to 30 th vertebrae, along with posterior side of trough, forms (kyphosis) in which: • 24 th to 26 th vertebrae represent anterior side.
• 27 th and 28 th vertebrae form angle. Vertebral thickness reduced and intervertebral spaces not clear.
• 29 th and 30 th vertebrae, having reduced intervertebral spaces,   • Vertebral column between 31 st to 35 th vertebrae forms a semilunar shape.Intervertebral spaces not clear.

Water degradation by pesticides
In a normal fish air bladder has two lobes viz.anterior large lobe and posterior elongated lobe.In this aberrant fish, on the other hand, anterior lobe is normal and posterior lobe is highly degenerated (Figure 1b and Figure 3b).
From radiological analysis it is clear that truncated post dorsal body is caused by post dorsal irregular vertebral column between 12 th to 35 th vertebrae having dome, a trough, (kyphosis) and a semilunar shape in caudal peduncle region.
Pesticides, the foremost efficient suggests that of tormenter and weed management, enable the upkeep of current yields and then contribute to economic viability.Concern regarding the environmental impact of continual chemical use has prompted analysis into the environmental fate of those agents, which might migrate from treated fields to air, alternative land and water bodies.However long the chemical remains within the soil depends on however powerfully it's sure by soil parts and the way pronto it's degraded.It conjointly depends on the environmental conditions at the time of application, e.g., soil water content.Chemical use should guarantee public safety and environmental protection with regards to each the chemical itself and their doubtless harmful metabolites.This paper reviews what's celebrated of the influence of the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil system, like wet content, organic matter and clay contents, and pH, on the sorption/desorption and degradation of pesticides and their access to groundwater and surface waters.AN understanding of the fate of pesticides is crucial for rational decision-taking relating to their authorization.To achieve AN adequate understanding would require the concourse of soil science, clay geology, chemical science, surface chemistry, environmental biology, plant physiology and, no doubt, alternative disciplines.Solely through a multidisciplinary approach to environmental analysis can or not it's attainable to set up, manage, pursue and integrate the results of the studies which will be necessary for the event of tools and techniques permitting effective environmental decision-making.There appears to be a good potential to develop microbially derived pesticides, that square measure effective, reliable and have an occasional environmental risk.additionally, new application techniques, as an example exactitude band spraying, will scale back the dose, which might be a awfully effective thanks to minimize transport and emission however conjointly to avoid a buildup of resistance in target organisms.Improved formulations also will be required to scale back off-target deposition, improve retention heading in the right direction, and enhance uptake and translocation.
To determine the cause of the fish die-off, the researchers collected water and fish samples immediately following the chemical release in 2007.The samples analyses and results clearly showed that the hydraulic fracturing fluids degraded water quality in Acorn Fork, to the point that the fish developed gill lesions, and suffered liver and spleen damage as well.
After the fracturing fluids entered Acorn Fork Creek, the water's pH dropped from 7.5 to 5.6, and stream conductivity increased from 200 to 35,000 microsiemens per centimeter.A low pH number indicates that the creek had become more acidic, and the stream conductivity indicated that there were higher levels of dissolved elements including iron and aluminum.

Discussion
Fish anomalies have been attributed to:
In Punjab state, a leading grain producing state, there is indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers and is resulting in degradation of the surface and ground waters.Thus, anomalies in Catla catla, under discussion, are most probably caused by water degradation and are in agreement to the observations of Al-Harbi, Cheng, Yershow Jawad, Olantunji Akioye, Gupta & Dutta [14][15][16][17][18][19].However, a detailed analysis of these abiotic and biotic factors is required before any conclusion is drawn about the possible cause of fish anomalies.

Figure 2b :
Figure 2b: X-ray photograph of Catlacatla (Ham.Buch) Showing post dorsal depression and disposition of fins.

Figure 3b :
Figure 3b: X-ray photograph of Catla catla (Ham.Buch.)Showing abnormal body height, highly truncated post dorsal body and disposition of fins.