Protozoan parasites of Xiphophorus spp. (Poeciliidae) and their relation with water characteristics

Abstract

This work investigated the relationship between water characteristics and infestation of protozoan parasites, Icthyophthirius multifiliis and Trichodina sp., in swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri) and platy (Xiphophorus maculates) collected in an ornamental fish farm in São Paulo, Brazil. Fish were monthly collected from ponds and tanks for one year. The prevalence rates in fish from tanks and ponds were, respectively, 34.2% and 22.5% for I. multifiliis, and 13% and 54.2% for Trichodina sp. Increased electric conductivity and pH provoked reduction of I. multifiliis infestation. Low oxygen concentration increased Trichodina sp. infestation. The use of salt to increase the electric conductivity of water was a method to control I. multifiliis. Low dissolved oxygen and the addition of organic fertilizer favored the reproduction of Trichodina sp.Keywords: swordtails, platy, parasite, protozoan, Trichodina sp., Icthyophthirius multifiliis RESUMO Investigou-se a relação entre as características da água e a infestação de protozoários parasitos,

Trichodina nobilis Chen, 1963 and Trichodina reticulata Hirschmann et Partsch, 1955 from ornamental freshwater fishes in Brazil

“…Up to now, Trichodina spp. from ornamental fish were reported in Paracheirodon axelrodi (Ferraz, 1999), Xiphophorus helleri and Xiphophorus maculatus (Garcia et al, 2009). Piazza et al (2006) registered Trichodina acuta Lom, 1961 in X. helleri, X. maculatus, Poecilia sphenops, Beta splendens and Carassius auratus. This study characterises morphologically Trichodina reticulata Hirschmann et Partsch, 1955 and Trichodina nobilis Chen, 1963 collected from ornamental freshwater fishes in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.…”

Import of exotic and zoonotic trematodes (Heterophyidae: Centrocestus sp.) in Xiphophorus maculatus: Implications for ornamental fish import control in Europe

“…A popular and frequently exported fish Xiphophorus maculatus, also known as platy fish (family Poecilidae), is susceptible to a number of parasite species, including digenetic trematodes in their metacercarial stage, which use the fish as their second intermediate host (Thilakaratne et al 2003, Piazza et al 2006, Garcia et al 2009. Infections are associated with fish mortality, decreased feeding rate and increased susceptibility to predation which result in significant economic losses in the industry (Crowden and Broom 1980, Brassard et al 1982, Scholz 1999, WHO 2002, reviewed by Mitchell et al 2005a, Shoaibi Omrani et al 2010, Paula-Andrade et al 2012.…”

Vegetable oil sources in diets for freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare, Cichlidae): growth and thermal tolerance

“…Moreover, manipulation of temperature and other water parameters may represent an alternative to minimize the transmission of parasites and their impact on fish farming (Garcia et al, 2009). So it is necessary to evaluate their tolerance to temperature variations and mechanisms to minimize their harmful effects on fish production.…”