Ecology of the parasitic endohelminth community of Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) (Characiformes) from Aquidauana and Miranda Rivers, Pantanal, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

In this study the structure and diversity of the endohelminth community, as well as its interactions with 73 specimens of Piaractus mesopotamicus are described. The fish were caught in Aquidauana and Miranda rivers, both located in the Pantantal region, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 608,788 specimens of helminthes were found, representing five species: Dadaytrema oxycephala, Chabaudinema americanum, Spectatus spectatus, Rondonia rondoni and Echinorhynchus jucundum. D. oxycephala was more prevalent (91.78%) followed by R. rondoni (73.97%).

Levamisole reduces parasitic infection in juvenile pacu ( Piaractus mesopotamicus )

“…Infection by R. rondoni in pacu has been reported (Costa, 1963;Martins and Urbinati, 1993;Campos et al, 2009). The occurrence of diseases associated with R. rondoni infestation is not common (Tatcher, 1991) even with record high infection intensities (675-49476), however nematodes can cause obstruction of the intestinal lumen at a high intensity of infection (Campos et al, 2009). There are several reports of mortality of pacu affected by these parasites (nematodes and monogeneans) in the Brazilian fish farms.…”

“…In our study, we observed the prevalence (100%) and intensity of infection (230-420) by nematodes in control fish and various infective stages (larvae, juveniles, adults, ovigerous females and with larvae) but again with no mortality. The high prevalence and intensity of infection by R. rondoni in pacu can be explained by endogenic multiplication of the parasite in fish and the specificity of this nematode by the host as postulated by Campos et al (2009).…”

“…This motivates the development of new therapeutic treatments of parasitic control (Alvarez-Pellitero, 2008). Infection by Nematoda (Campos et al, 2009) and infestation by Monogenoidea (Jorgensen et al, 2009) have been recorded frequently in fish farming. The identification and quantification of these parasites in important farmed fish are necessary tools to control parasitic diseases.…”

“…Pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887), is an important sport and table fish in South America (Oliveira et al, 2004;Queiroz et al, 2005) that is farmed in aquaculture systems (Oliveira et al, 2004;Queiroz et al, 2005;Urbinati et al, 2013;Valladão et al, 2016). Its parasitic fauna is known (Costa, 1963;Boeger et al, 1995;Martins and Urbinati, 1993;Tavares-Dias et al, 2001;Martins and Onaka, 2004;Campos et al, 2009;Campos et al, 2011;Franceschini et al, 2013). It is common the reports of mortality of pacu affected by these parasites (nematodes and monogeneans) in the Brazilian fish farms.…”

A Morphological and Molecular Study ofSpectatus spectatus(Kathlaniidae), Including Redescription of the Species and Amendment of Genus Diagnosis

“…Its type species, Spectatus spectatus, has been reported mainly from serrasalmid fishes (Serrasalmidae) and, less frequently, parasitizing fishes of the families Bryconidae, Doradidae and Pimelodidae, in the Paraná River basin in Brazil and Argentina (Travassos, 1923;Travassos and Kohn, 1965;Hamann, 1982aHamann, , 1982bMasi Palláres, 1990;Parra et al, 1997;Moravec, 1998;Santos et al, 2003;Campos et al, 2009). Despite its widespread occurrence, the morphology of S. spectatus is not sufficiently known which has generated problems to separate Spectatus from 2 other kathlaniid genera, Falcaustra Lane, 1915 andChabaudinema Díaz-Ungría, 1968 (see Baker, 1980).…”