Acanthocephalan parasites of the flounder species Paralichthys isosceles, Paralichthys patagonicus and Xystreurys rasile from Brazil

Abstract

Flounders are commercially and economically important fish. A total of 120 specimens of flounders (60 Paralichthys isosceles, 30 Paralichthys patagonicus and 30 Xystreurys rasile) were collected off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The fish were measured, necropsied and filleted, and then had their organs investigated for acanthocephalans. Taxonomic identification of the parasites was based on morphological, morphometric and genetic characters. Paralichthys isosceles and P. patagonicus were parasitized by juveniles of Serrasentis sagittifer, Bolbosoma turbinella, Corynosoma australe and C. cetaceum; Xystreurys rasile was parasitized by C. australe. Genetic characterization confirmed the identification of specimens of Bolbosoma turbinella and Corynosoma australe, as demonstrated by phylogenetic analyses using both ITS and cox1 molecular targets. Parasite indices of prevalence, intensity, mean intensity, abundance, mean abundance, and range of infection, as well as infection site, were evaluated for each parasite species. This is the first report of S. sagittifer parasitizing P. isosceles and P. patagonicus, and B. turbinella parasitizing P. patagonicus.

Molecular and morphological characterization of Bolbosoma balaenae (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae), a neglected intestinal parasite of the fin whale Balaenoptera physalus

“…The different ultrastructural pattern of proboscis's hooks has been studied as a potential diagnostic feature to differentiate among species of Centrorhynchus and species of related genera, but no conclusive results were obtained (Amin et al ., 2015, 2018). No mention is done on both ultrastructure of proboscis's hooks and epidermal micropores from previously published papers reporting SEM observation of B. capitatum , B. vasculosum and B. turbinella (Amin and Margolis, 1998; Costa et al ., 2000; da Fonseca et al ., 2019). Future studies comparing the ultrastructure features among Bolbosoma species could reveal if the present findings might yield important information to help identify this species.…”

Nematodes and acanthocephalans of hygienic-sanitary importance parasitizing Hyporthodus niveatus (Valenciennes, 1828) (Actinopterygii) collected from fish markets of the municipality of Niterói, RJ, Brazil

“…Taxonomic classification of nematodes followed De Ley & Blaxter (2002) and species identification relied on Felizardo et al (2009) and . Taxonomic classification of acanthocephalans followed Amin (2013), while species identification relied on Pereira & Neves (1993), Sardella et al (2005) and Fonseca et al (2019). Nematode larvae and acantocephalan juveniles were observed using an Olympus BX-41 bright-field microscope and measurements were made in millimeters (mm), with means provided in parentheses.…”

“…Some cases of human acanthocephaliasis have been reported in association with the ingestion of raw fish, such as with species of Corynosoma (Polymorphidae) parasitizing Alaskan Eskimos (Schmidt, 1971) and in Japan (Acha & Szyfres, 2003;Fujita et al, 2016). Polymorphid acanthocephalans have been reported parasitizing marine fish species in Brazil (Santos et al, 2008;Eiras et al, 2016;Fonseca et al, 2019). Fonseca et al (2019) have suggested studies to evaluate the zoonotic potential of acanthocephalan species.…”

“…Polymorphid acanthocephalans have been reported parasitizing marine fish species in Brazil (Santos et al, 2008;Eiras et al, 2016;Fonseca et al, 2019). Fonseca et al (2019) have suggested studies to evaluate the zoonotic potential of acanthocephalan species.…”

Hemiurid and lecithasterid digenean trematodes and camallanid and cucullanid nematodes parasitizing flounders collected off the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

“…Studies, including morphological and ecological surveys, have reported some groups of helminths parasitizing the flounder species P. isosceles, P. patagonicus and X. rasile (Paralichthyidae) in Brazil (Felizardo et al, 2009a(Felizardo et al, , b, 2010(Felizardo et al, , 2011(Felizardo et al, , 2018Fonseca et al, 2012Fonseca et al, , 2016Fonseca et al, , 2019Knoff et al, 2012;Alarcos et al, 2016;Eiras et al, 2016;Justo et al, 2017) including species of trematodes and nematodes. The present paper continues these studies on flounders occurring off of the Brazilian coast.…”