First record of an epibiont protozoan Epistylis sp. (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) attached to Ergasilus chelangulatus (Ergasilidae) in Brazil

Abstract

In the present paper, we described the first record of an epibiont protozoan Epistylis sp. Ehrenberg, 1830 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia)

First Record in Brazil of <i> Epistylis </i> sp. (Ciliophora) Adhered to <i> Argulus </i> sp. (Argulidae), a Parasite of <i> Hoplias aimara </i> (Eritrhinidae)

“…in Ergasilus chelangulatus from Pimelodus maculatus [11]. In this manner, the results of the present study suggest that Epistylis sp.…”

“…Species of Epistylis have been reported in different species of freshwater fish in Brazil, such as Colisa lalia, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Oreochromis niloticus, Piaractus mesopotamicus, Pseudoplatystoma corruscans, Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum, Leiarius marmoratus, Hemisorubim platyrhynchos and Zungaro jahu [10] [21] [22], which were possibly also infected by crustacean species, suggesting that crustaceans are important for the development and maintenance of the life of Epistylis sp. [11] [14]. Furthermore, it is suggested that the infective forms seek new hosts for the fixation and development of new colonies, such as zooplankton copepods, which can act as vectors or host reservoirs of Epistylis spp., as it is common to find these ciliates fixed on the body surface of copepods [14]- [16] thereby increasing the dissemination of this ciliate.…”

“…In fish, the main organ colonized is the gills and in Brazil, Epistylis sp. is an emerging parasite [10] [11]. The death of thousands of Centrarchidae in the USA has been attributed to heavy infestation by Epistylis sp., which coincide with ulcers and lesions.…”

“…commonly colonizes planktonic copepods [14]- [17]. However, colonization studies of ectoparasite crustaceans are rare [11].…”

Dolops carvalhoi as a vector of Epistylis sp. between cultivated and wild specimens of Oreochromis niloticus in Brazil

“…In Brazil, an epibiont relation was described between Epistylis sp. and some ectoparasitic crustaceans such as: Amplexibranchius bryconis Thatcher & Paredes, 1985 (Copepoda, Ergasilidae), in Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837) (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae) from the Peixe's River (ABDALLAH et al, 2011); Ergasilus chelangulatus Thatcher and Brasil-Sato, 2008 (Copepoda, Ergasilidae), in Pimelodus maculatus Lacépède, 1803 (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) from the Veados River (AZEVEDO et al, 2014); Argulus sp. (Crustacea, Branchiura), in Hoplias aimara (Valenciennes, 1847) (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Amazon Basin (CORRÊA et al, 2016).…”