Studies on Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pereirai Annereaux, 1946 (Nematoda: Camallanidae), with new host records and new morphological data on the larval stages

Abstract

During a survey of fish parasites off the northeast coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, different stages of the nematode Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pereirai Annereaux, 1946 were found in estuarine fishes. As camallanids are considered a significant problem for fishes when maintained in a closed ecosystem in the presence of suitable intermediate hosts (Rychlinski & Deardorff 1982), the description of previously unknown larval stages and the new host records encountered aid on understanding of the biology of this nematode in the study area. MATERIALS AND METHODSNinety-four fishes were accidentally captured in shrimp nets off the State of Rio de Janeiro, between Atafona (21º37'S, 41º02'W) and Macaé (22º23'S, 41º47'W). These were identified as: 32 Paralonchurus brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1875) Menticirrus americanus (Linnaeus, 1758). Fishes were dissected shortly after capture, usually being freshly killed. During the necropsy, all organs were separated and placed in sieves of 200 µm to be washed. Nematodes were fixed in Berland's fluid (Gibson 1979) for about 1 min and then stored in 70% alcohol. Drawings were made with the aid of a Wild microscope drawing attachment. Measurements were made with the use of a calibrated filar micrometer and are given in millimeters. The mean is indicated in parenthesis followed by the number of specimens measured, when more than two. Ecological terms used follow Margolis et al. (1982) and Moravec (1994). Helminths collected during the survey were deposited in the Helminthological Collection of Instituto Oswaldo Cruz,. RESULTSThe prevalence and abundance of P. (S.) pereirai in Paralonchurus brasiliensis was 78% and 2.7, in N. microps, 66% and 2.3; in S. brasiliensis 6% and 0.06, and in P. porosissimus 16% and 0.16. All three S. tesselatus were parasitized with three, three and four nematodes, respectively, while the only specimen of M. americanus had one nematode. The following description is based on specimens from P. brasiliensis; measurements from other hosts are presented in the Table. The first-stage larvae of these viviparous nematodes develop in the uterus of gravid females. The slender, colorless first-stage larvae, obtained from

Association of size structure, diet composition, endo-parasites of Snakehead fish (Channa striata, Bloch), in Lake Mainit, Caraga Region, Philippines

“…The host's death might stimulate the nematodes to emerge from their cysts, migrate through the body wall to the surface of their dead host, and may survive for over 24 hours when a dampened condition exists. In accordance to the study conducted in California that the fish Atherinopsis californiensis was harbored by Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pereirai due to heavily preying on white shrimps (Penaues setiferus) containing at third stage larvae of P. (S.) pereirai was the cause of the infection (Santos et al, 1999).…”

“…Most of this parasite is inhibited in the fish's intestine and stomach. Inside the gut, this parasite was recognized through its color until its third and fourth stage larvae (Santos et al, 1999). Through the aid of a microscope, these parasites were noticed to be colorless, but the adult was identified as a red-like worm and medium in size.…”

“…Since shrimps were more copious food items of the fish samples in both seasons and served as invertebrate intermediate hosts, it is possible that shrimp containing third-stage larvae (L3) of the parasite was eaten by the fish and became definitive hosts of the parasite. Once the shrimp carry the L3 stages was eaten by a fish and digested Santos et al (1999). The nematode parasites migrate into the body cavity and over the external surface of internal organs.…”

Helminth parasites of Ctenosciaena gracilicirrhus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the coast of Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

“…Most species of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) are parasites of freshwater and marine hosts in South America. The larval stages of P. (S.) pereirai have been reported in 3 marine fish species of the family Sciaenidae: Nebris microps Cuvier, 1830, Paralonchurus brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1875), Macrodon ancylodon (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) and Stellifer brasiliensis (Schulz, 1945), and 1 more of the family Cyanoglossidae: Symphurus tesselatus (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824), from Rio de Janeiro State (Santos et al, 1999).…”

Metazoan parasite infracommunities of the dusky flounder (Syacium papillosum) as bioindicators of environmental conditions in the continental shelf of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

“…The life-cycle of Spirocamallanus chetumalensis has not been described. However, based on the life-cycle of a marine relative Camallanus ( Spirocamallanus ) pereirai , it is assumed that the first intermediate hosts should be copepods [69], the second ones shrimps [70], with the definitive host fishes predating on shrimps [69]. For the remaining low prevalence (less than 10%) metazoan parasites in Table 2, those with heteroxenous life-cycles (e.g.…”