Ecological aspects of metazoan endoparasites of Metynnis lippincottianus (Cope, 1870) (Characidae) from Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil

Abstract

We examined 44 specimens of Metynnis lippincottianus (Cope, 1870) (Characidae), collected in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil, from March 2006 to December 2007. Of the total number of fishes, 32 (72.7 %) were infected by at least one species of helminth (endoparasites). One digenean, Dadayus pacupeva, and four nematode species, Spinoxyuris oxydoras, Contracaecum sp. (larval stage), Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus and Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) mahnerti were identified. D. pacupeva and S. oxydoras showed the highest values of prevalence, mean intensity and abundance. The typical pattern of overdispersion or aggregation was observed for all endoparasites. Dominance by D. pacupeva and S. oxydoras was observed in the parasite community. Positive association between D. pacupeva and two nematode species (S. oxydoras and P.(S.) inopinatus) was observed, including positive and significant covariation between their abundances. These results suggest that species are coexisting without competition. There was no correlation between parasitism and sex for M. lippincottianus.

First study on communities of parasites in Triportheus rotundatus, a Characidae fish from the Amazon River system (Brazil)

“…The abundance and diversity of the invertebrate fauna are also key components in the formation of a parasite community in fish populations (MOREIRA et al, 2009;MORLEY, 2012;TAVARES-DIAS et al, 2015). Moreover, environments with abundance of aquatic vegetation (e.g.…”

“…Characteristics of the habitat may facilitate the transmission and establishment of fish parasites (MOREIRA et al, 2009;COSTA-PEREIRA et al, 2014;BITTENCOURT et al, 2014;OLIVEIRA et al, 2016). The abundance and diversity of the invertebrate fauna are also key components in the formation of a parasite community in fish populations (MOREIRA et al, 2009;MORLEY, 2012;TAVARES-DIAS et al, 2015).…”

“…Moreover, the knowledge about parasites community infracommunities and their relationship with the host fish is of great importance, because the parasites also play a key role in ecosystems by regulating the abundance or density of natural fish populations, thus stabilizing food web and host community structures (MOREIRA et al, 2009;MORLEY, 2012;TAVARES-DIAS et al, 2013;OLIVEIRA et al, 2016 (MACHADO, 1959;KRITSKY et al, 1992;COHEN et al, 2013;COSTA-PEREIRA et al, 2014;OLIVEIRA et al, 2016). However, there are no studies on the parasites of T. rotundatus.…”

“…Studies on parasitic fauna aspects should be directed to T. rotundatus, due to the importance of knowledge on several factors that could influence the diversity and structure of the parasite infracommunities in fish populations (MOREIRA et al, 2009;LAGRUE et al, 2011;TAVARES-DIAS et al, 2013;COSTA-PEREIRA et al, 2014;OLIVEIRA et al, 2016). Moreover, the knowledge about parasites community infracommunities and their relationship with the host fish is of great importance, because the parasites also play a key role in ecosystems by regulating the abundance or density of natural fish populations, thus stabilizing food web and host community structures (MOREIRA et al, 2009;MORLEY, 2012;TAVARES-DIAS et al, 2013;OLIVEIRA et al, 2016 (MACHADO, 1959;KRITSKY et al, 1992;COHEN et al, 2013;COSTA-PEREIRA et al, 2014;OLIVEIRA et al, 2016).…”

Parasitic infections in tambaqui from eight fish farms in Northern Brazil

“…In this farm, the ponds are supplied with water from a river and the floodplain, where it is possible to find arthropod species. Chironomids are intermediary hosts of P. (S.) inopinatus (Moreira et al, 2009), a nematode with low parasitic specificity, which requires fish as paratenic or definite hosts (Silva et al, 2011). Still, Camallanidae species may be damaging to reared fish, because when it is in the presence of a great quantity of intermediary hosts with infecting stages in this artificial environment, it may lead to high levels of parasitism.…”