scholarly journals Diversity of ectoparasites and endoparasites infecting Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), a large migratory catfish from the Amazon

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-128
Author(s):  
Ivanildo Amanajás BRITO-JUNIOR ◽  
Marcos TAVARES-DIAS

ABSTRACT Brachyplatystoma vaillantii is a large migratory catfish widely distributed in the Amazon basin, but its parasitic fauna is still poorly known. As it is an important fishery resource in the region of the Amazonas River estuary, the aim of this study was to investigate the parasite community in B. vaillantii from a tributary of the Amazonas River estuary system, in Brazil. We examined 31 juvenile fish, of which 80.6% were parasitized, and a total of 586 parasites were collected. We identified Dermidospermus brachyplastystimae and Dermidospermus araguiensis (Monogenea), Genarchella genarchella (Digenea), Harriscolex piramutab (Cestoda), Pseudoterranova sp. (Nematoda), Ergasilus xinguensis (Crustacea) and mites (Acarina). The dominance was of Pseudoterranova sp. larvae. The parasite community of B. vaillantii was composed of low values of species richness (2.0 ± 1.4), evenness (0.18 ± 0.21) and diversity (0.32 ± 0.37), with predominance of ectoparasite species with low prevalence, low abundance and overdispersion. Host body weight was the main correlate of parasite diversity and abundance, and a diet rich in crustaceans and other invertebrates may be important in structuring the parasite community of B. vaillantii. This is the first report of Dermidospermus brachyplastystimae and D. araguiensis, Pseudoterranova sp. and G. genarchella for B. vaillantii.

Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 138 (13) ◽  
pp. 1804-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
NICOLAS PONLET ◽  
KITIPONG CHAISIRI ◽  
JULIEN CLAUDE ◽  
SERGE MORAND

SUMMARYParasite diversity is hypothesized to act on host life-history traits through investment in immunity. In order to incorporate the diversity of the parasite community that an individual host or a host species may face, two indices can be used: Taxonomic Species Richness and Taxonomic Entropy, where the taxonomic information is incorporated with the taxonomic weight. We tested whether these indices correlate with several morphological traits potentially implicated in immune defence and in reproduction, using data on gastrointestinal helminths and their rodent hosts sampled in Southeast Asia. We found no relationship between parasite diversity indices and either spleen mass or testes size at the intraspecific level, i.e. at the level of individuals. At the interspecific level, we found no relationship between the parasite diversity indices and testes size. However, we found that female spleen mass is significantly influenced by the specific species richness of parasites, whereas male spleen mass is influenced by individual mean parasite diversity indices. We concluded that female spleen mass may have evolved in response to gastrointestinal helminth pressure acting at species levels, while in males, the individual spleen mass could be constrained by other factors, such as the blood storage function of the spleen.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Barata GONÇALVES ◽  
Marcos Sidney Brito OLIVEIRA ◽  
William Felix BORGES ◽  
Gracienhe Gomes SANTOS ◽  
Marcos TAVARES-DIAS

ABSTRACT This study investigated the diversity of metazoan parasites in Colossoma macropomum from the Jari River, in the eastern Amazon, northern Brazil. We collected a total of 4966 parasites from 34 fishes, including monogeneans (Anacanthorus spathulatus, Mymarothecium boegeri, Notozothecium janauachensis and Linguadactyloides brinkmanni), nematodes (Spectatus spectatus larvae, Contracaecum sp. larvae andProcamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus), digeneans (Cladorchiidae metacercariae), acanthocephalans (Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae), crustaceans (Ergasilus turucuyus, Argulus multicolor, Perulernaea gamitanae and Braga patagonica), mites and leeches. The dominance was of monogenean species, found in the gills of the hosts. The parasites exhibited high aggregate dispersion, except Contracaecum sp. and P. (S.) inopinatus, that showed uniform and random dispersion, respectively. The species richness of parasites varied from 1 to 9, the Brillouin diversity index from 0 to 1.52, evenness from 0 to 0.63 and the Berger-Parker dominance index from 0.39 to 1.00. Abundance of parasites was not influenced by host length, but there was significant correlation with host body weight in some cases. The parasite community was characterized by low species richness and moderate diversity, with a predominance of ectoparasites with high prevalence and abundance, as well as the presence of endoparasites in the larval stage.


2013 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 272-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Costa-Pereira ◽  
F. Paiva ◽  
L.E.R. Tavares

AbstractIn July 2009 and July 2010 (two dry periods separated by an atypically large flood in the Pantanal wetland of Brazil), 34 and 33 specimens of the sardine fishTriportheus nematuruswere collected, respectively, for the study of the metazoan parasite community of this species. Parasite ecological and community descriptors were calculated for both host samples, and possible similarities were tested statistically. Five species of metazoan parasites were identified, four of which were common to both host samples. A total of 61 metazoan parasites were collected from all fish hosts (17 specimens in July 2009 (mean: 0.5 ± 0.66 parasites/fish) and 44 specimens in July 2010 (mean: 1.33 ± 1.41 parasites/fish)). The nematodeProcamallanus hilariiand the monogeneanAnacanthorussp. were the most prevalent and abundant species in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The mean total abundance and species richness were significantly higher in 2010. Parasite communities in both samples ofT. nematuruswere characterized by species with low prevalence, abundance, mean total abundance and species richness, thus indicating low parasite diversity. Significant differences in the prevalence and abundance ofP. hilariiandAnacanthorussp. between the two samples allowed the discrimination of infracommunities, which were united in two distinct groups. This appears to be the first evidence that the peculiar hydrological dynamics of the southern Pantanal wetland (Brazil) exert an important influence over the structure of the parasite community.


2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
AMA. Medeiros ◽  
JEL. Barbosa ◽  
PR. Medeiros ◽  
RM. Rocha ◽  
LF. Silva

The present study aimed at evaluating differences in rotifer distribution in three estuarine zones in an inverse estuary located in the Semiarid Region of Brazil. Zones were chosen based on their proximity to the ocean and river border as a means of reflecting a horizontal salinity gradient. High freshwater discharge during the rainy season was the major determinant of rotifer composition. On the other hand, due to higher salinity values during the dry season, very low values of species richness and abundance were observed in all zones. Therefore, the study highlights the constraints of salinity and the positive influence of seasonality and river proximity on rotifer species in a semiarid estuarine environment.


2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucelia Nobre Carvalho ◽  
Luana Fidelis ◽  
Rafael Arruda ◽  
Andre Galuch ◽  
Jansen Zuanon

Floating litter banks are an ephemeral habitat consisting of branches, twigs, flowers, seeds, and fruits that are trapped on the stream water surface by a variety of retention mechanisms. These heterogeneous materials form a deep layer of dead plant matter that is colonized by a variety of organisms, including fish that forage on the aquatic macroinvertebrates found in this unique habitat. In this study, we aimed to characterize which fish species occupy the floating litter banks and their trophic characteristics, as well as determine if fish assemblage composition and species richness can be predicted by the size of the floating litter banks. Fish sampling was conducted in five rivers located in the Amazon basin. Of the 31 floating litter banks sampled that contained fish, 455 individuals were recorded and were distributed within 40 species, 15 families and five orders. Siluriformes were the most representative order among the samples and contained the largest number of families and species. The fish fauna sampled was mainly composed of carnivorous species that are typically found in submerged litter banks of Amazonian streams. The fish assemblage composition in the kinon can be predicted by the volume of the floating litter banks using both presence/absence and abundance data, but not its species richness. In conclusion, kinon banks harbor a rich fish assemblage that utilizes this habitat for shelter and feeding, and may function as a refuge for the fishes during the peak of the flooding season.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Trevor K. Scheffel ◽  
Joseph E. Hightower ◽  
Jeffrey A. Buckel ◽  
Jacob R. Krause ◽  
Frederick S. Scharf

The addition of acoustic telemetry to conventional tagging studies can generate direct estimates of mortality and movement rates to inform fisheries management. We applied a combined telemetry and tag-return design to southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma), a coastal flatfish that demonstrates limited movements within estuarine habitats coupled with extensive ontogenetic migrations that present unique challenges for estimating mortality rates. The fates of acoustically and conventionally tagged fish were followed during 2014–2016 to estimate annual rates of fishing mortality (F), natural mortality (M), and estuarine emigration (E). Multistate models estimated southern flounder annual F for each of the 3 years at two spatial scales (New River estuary F = 0.49–1.61; North Carolina coast F = 0.36–0.72). Annual rates of emigration were high (E = 1.06–1.67), and direct estimation of this source of loss considerably improved mortality estimates. The model estimated natural mortality as a constant annual rate (M = 0.84), which was similar in magnitude to life-history-based estimates for similar age groups. By accounting for unique behavioral attributes in the study design, the application of multistate tagging models provided robust estimates of mortality and emigration rates for a valuable coastal fishery resource that will inform future efforts to achieve yield and conservation goals.


Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (11) ◽  
pp. 1493-1505 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. ONDRAČKOVÁ ◽  
A. ŠIMKOVÁ ◽  
K. CIVÁŇOVÁ ◽  
M. VYSKOČILOVÁ ◽  
P. JURAJDA

SUMMARYSpecies introduced into new areas often show a reduction in parasite and genetic diversity associated to the limited number of founding individuals. In this study, we compared microsatellite and parasite diversity in both native (lower Danube) and introduced populations of 4 Ponto-Caspian gobies, including those (1) introduced from within the same river system (middle Danube; Neogobius kessleri and N. melanostomus), and (2) introduced from a different river system (River Vistula; N. fluviatilis and N. gymnotrachelus). Microsatellite data confirmed the lower Danube as a source population for gobies introduced into the middle Danube. Both native and introduced (same river system) populations of N. kessleri and N. melanostomus had comparable parasite species richness and microsatellite diversity, possibly due to multiple and/or continual migration/introduction of new individuals and the acquisition of local parasites. Reduced parasite species richness and microsatellite diversity were observed in introduced (different river system) populations in the Vistula. A low number of colonists found for N. fluviatilis and N. gymnotrachelus in the Vistula potentially resulted in reduced introduction of parasite species. Insufficient adaptation of the introduced host to local parasite fauna, together with introduction into an historically different drainage system, may also have contributed to the reduced parasite fauna.


1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.E.M. El-Darsh ◽  
P.J. Whitfield

The composition of the parasite fauna of the flounder,Platichthys flesus, retrieved from two locations in the tidal Thames is described in detail for the first time. The combined parasite species list of the flounders from Lots Road in the upper tideway and West Thurrock in the middle tideway consisted of one protozoan (Glugea stephani), one monogenean (Gyrodactylussp.), four larval digeneans (Cryptocotyle concava,Timoniella imbutiforme,T. praeterita, andLabratrema minimus), five adult digeneans (Derogenes varicus,Lecithaster gibbosus,Podocotylesp.,Plagioporus varius, andZoogonoides viviparus), one larval cestode (unidentified tetraphyllidean), one or possibly more larval nematodes (unidentified) plus five adult nematodes (Capillariasp.,Cucullanus heterochrous,C. minutus,Contracaecumsp. andGoeziasp.), two acanthocephalans (Pomphorhynchus laevisandAcanthocephalus anguillae), three copepods (Lepeophtheirus pectoralis,Acanthochondriasp. andLernaeocera branchialis), and one mollusc (unidentified glochidia). The overall parasite community of flounders from Lots Road and West Thurrock were compared in terms of species richness and diversity. The parasite community in flounders from the former location in the upper tideway was found to be less diverse than that of its counterpart at West Thurrock in the middle estuary. The component community of Lots Road flounders was dominated by the acanthocephalanPomphorhynchus laevis.


Author(s):  
CLAUDINEI CRUZ ◽  
JOAQUIM G. MACHADO-NETO ◽  
MANOEL LIMA DE MENEZES

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram calcular a CL (I) 50-96h do inseticida organofosforado paration metílico e do biopesticida azadiractina para alevinos e juvenis de pacu ( P. mesopotamicus). Também pretendeu-se avaliar o efeito do peso corpóreo sobre a toxicidade aguda do paration metílico e do neem para o pacu, bem como classificar o risco ambiental do uso de paration metílico e do neem para o controle de parasitas e patógenos de pacu. Foram realizados dois experimentos, em condições laboratoriais, para a determinação da concentração letal (CL (I) 50-96h). A CL (I) 50-96h calculada do paration metílico foi de 3,97 mg/L para os alevinos e de 9,89 mg/L para os juvenis. Para a azadiractina foi de 1,20 mg/L para os alevinos e de 1,18 mg/L para os juvenis. As concentrações de 1,0 mg/L de paration metílico para os alevinos e de 7,5 mg/L para os juvenis e as de 0,29 e 0,59 mg/L de azadiractina não provocaram mortalidade nos animais expostos e podem ser utilizadas como referência em estudos de controle de parasitas em pacu . O paration metílico foi menos tóxico para os alevinos e para os juvenis de pacu do que a azadiractina, indicando a necessidade de cuidados com a utilização de extratos aquosos de neem no ambiente aquático. ACUTE TOXICITY OF THE INSECTICIDE METHYL PARATHION AND OF THE BIOPESTICIDE AZADIRACHTIN FROM NEEM LEAVES (Azadirachta indica) TO ALEVINE AND JUVENILE PACU (Piaractus mesopotamicus) Abstract The objectives of the present study were: to calculate the lethal concentration LC (I) 50-96 h of methyl parathion and of the biopesticide azadirachtin to alevine and juvenile pacu ( P. mesopotamicus). Also to determine the effect of body weight on acute toxicity of methyl parathion and of neem for pacu, as well as to classify the environmental risk of the methyl parathion and neem uses for the control of pacu parasites and pathogens. Two experiments were performed under laboratory conditions for the determination of the LC (I) 50-96 h. The LC (I) 50-96 h of methyl parathion was 3.97 mg/L for alevine and 9.89 mg/L for juvenile fish. The LC (I) 50-96 h of azadirachtin was 1.20 mg/L for alevine and 1.18 mg/L for juvenile pacu. Concentrations of 1.0 and 7.5 mg/L of methyl parathion and of 0.29 and 0.59 mg/L of azadirachtin for alevine and juvenile pacu, respectively, did not cause mortality in the exposed animals and can be used as references in studies on the control of parasites in pacu. Methyl parathion was less toxic to alevine and juvenile pacu than azadirachtin, indicating the need for careful utilization of aqueous neem extracts in aquatic environments.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane A. Skoyen ◽  
Kelly E. Rentscher ◽  
Emily A. Butler

Research on the connection between relationship quality and body weight yields mixed results, suggesting the presence of a moderating variable. We tested whether the connection between four measures of relationship quality (conflict, ambivalence, maintenance, and love) and body mass index (BMI) was moderated by gender and couples’ unhealthy behaviors. The results showed that among women, those reporting good relationship quality had lower BMI than those with poor relationship quality, but only if they also showed little evidence of couples’ unhealthy behaviors. In other words, only the combination of high relationship quality and low prevalence of couples’ unhealthy behaviors was linked to lower BMI among women. In contrast, low relationship quality, regardless of couples’ unhealthy behaviors, and the combination of high relationship quality and high prevalence of couples’ unhealthy behaviors were all linked to higher BMI among women. These associations were not observed among men. The results suggest the presence of symptom-system fit—a relational pattern linking health detrimental behaviors and higher relationship quality.


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