Cyrilia sp. (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae) in the Amazonian freshwater stingray Potamotrygon wallacei (cururu stingray) in different hydrological phases of the Rio Negro

Abstract

Intraerythrocytic parasites are frequently found in fish, including elasmobranchs. The Amazonian rivers present well defined annual hydrological cycles that results in drastic modifications of the environmental conditions with deep implications in the life cycle of the whole associated biota in those fluvial systems. The freshwater stingray Potamotrygon wallacei (stingray cururu) is a new species restricted to the Middle Rio Negro basin and it is subject to strong alterations in their natural habitats (igapós) a result of the constant variations in the water level of Rio Negro. This work demonstrates the occurrence of intraerythrocytic parasite Cyrilia sp. in this stingray species. Additionally, the prevalence and quantification of hemoparasites in different phases of Rio Negro were also established. Field sampling was carried in the Archipelago of Mariuá, Middle Rio Negro, involving different stages of the water cycle. The intraerythrocytic parasites were quantified by direct counting in blood smears using a total counting of 2000 erythrocytes in each blood smear. The presence of parasites intraerythrocytic generates changes in the morphology of blood cell. The largest amount of the hemoparasites was recorded in the drought period. We observed a decreasing tendency in the number of parasites in the blood between the drought periods and inundation. We concluded that the level of Negro River influences the incidence of intraerythrocytic parasites in the cururu stingray and the drought represents the period of larger susceptibility to the infestation.Keywords: Amazon basin, prevalence, intraerythrocytic, seasonal variation, freshwater stingray.Cyrilia sp. (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae) na arraia de água doce Amazônica Potamotrygon wallacei (arraia cururu) em diferentes fases do ciclo hidrológico do Rio Negro ResumoParasitas intraeritrocitários são frequentemente encontrados em peixes, incluindo elasmobrânquios. Os rios Amazônicos possuem ciclos hidrológicos anuais que resultam em modificações drásticas nas condições ambientais, com implicação profunda no ciclo de vida associada a biota dos sistemas fluviais. A arraia de água doce Potamotrygon wallacei (arraia cururu) é uma nova espécie restrita a bacia do médio Rio Negro e sujeita a fortes alterações em seus habitats naturais (igapós) resultantes das constantes variações do nível de água do Rio Negro. Este trabalho demonstra a ocorrência de parasita intraeritrocitário Cyrilia sp. em espécimes de arraias de água doce. Além disso, a prevalência e quantificaçãoBraz.

Occurrence of Four Freshwater Stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygoninae) in the Uatumã River Basin, Amazon Region: A Field Study

“…In recent years, there have been significant advances in studies of freshwater stingrays, including studies on contaminants [19], the determination of stingray meat using low-cost analytical tools [20], blood physiological assessment in a natural environment [21][22][23], and blood parasite records [24,25]. Still, despite these studies, most Potamotrygonines are listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN List of Threatened Species due to a lack of information on population rates and geographic dispersion [26].…”

Ornamental fishing in the region of Barcelos, Amazonas: socioeconomic description and scenario of activity in the view of “piabeiros”

“…The commercial fishing and the one of subsistence is the ones that represent larger source of jobs generation and income in the fishing section in the area (Lima et al, 2012). Besides these, the ornamental fishing is described as fundamental importance for the local riverine populations, being this responsible one for the subsistence of the same ones in several areas of the Amazonian (Anjos et al, 2009), with prominence in Barcelos area (Medio River Negro) (Oliveira et al, 2016(Oliveira et al, , 2017a.…”

Three‐dimensional architecture of Cyrilia lignieresi gametocyte‐stage development inside red blood cells

“…The Haemogregarine genus has received attention due to the economic importance of Haemogregarina bigemina that infect several species of marine fish, especially Atlantic mackerel (Davies et al, 2004; Hayes & Smit, 2019). The genus Cyrilia is of ecological interest, as it affects species such as Cururu stingray , found in the Amazon region, that help control the invertebrate population and acts as a bio indicator in environmental monitoring studies (Magro et al, 2015; Oliveira et al, 2017).…”

“…The Haemogregarine genus has received attention due to the economic importance of Haemogregarina bigemina that infect several species of marine fish, especially Atlantic mackerel (Davies et al, 2004;Hayes & Smit, 2019). The genus Cyrilia is of ecological interest, as it affects species such as Cururu stingray, found in the Amazon region, that help control the invertebrate population and acts as a bio indicator in environmental monitoring studies (Magro et al, 2015;Oliveira et al, 2017). Lainson and Canning (1981) and Lainson (1992) described Cyrilia lignieresi (Laveran, 1906) parasitizing the red blood cells (RBCs) of the fish Synbranchus marmoratus from Para State, North Brazil, transmitted by its definitive host, the leech Haementeria lutzi.…”