First record of the invasive tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Pseudophyllidea; Bothriocephalidae) in native freshwater fish, Brazil

Abstract

Schyzocotyle acheilognathi is a tapeworm cestode commonly found in native freshwater fishes from Asia. This cestode has low host specificity and for that reason it has been registered parasitizing more than 200 cultured and wild fish species, besides amphibians, reptiles and birds from different regions of the world. With a high pathogenic potential, S. acheilognathi may cause mortalities in highly infected fish. In South America, Schyzocotyle was reported in Cyprinus carpio from a Brazilian fish farm at the municipality of Cornélio Procópio, northern Paraná State and from the natural environment in C. carpio from Neuquen River, Patagonia, Argentina. So far, there has been no report of this parasite in South American native fishes. Herein we report the first occurrence of the invasive tapeworm S. acheilognathi in Rineloricaria pentamaculata (Siluriformes, Loricariidae), a native armored freshwater catfish from southern Brazil.

Parasitological diagnosis in ornamental freshwater fish from different fish farmers of five Brazilian states

“…With a high pathogenic potential, S. acheilognathi may cause mortalities in highly infected fish. This cestode has already been found in Brazil (Souza et al, 2018).…”

Infection of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) with the Asian fish tapeworm Schyzocotyle acheilognathi in an urban stream in Brazil

“…All these findings serve as warnings about the negative pathogenic impacts of S. acheilognathi on fish health worldwide. To date, only three studies in South America have reported AFT in fish in Brazil ( Rego et al, 1999 ; Santos et al, 2017 ; Souza et al, 2018 ), and one has reported AFT in Argentina ( Waicheim et al, 2014 ). However, the possibility that this alien parasite is more widely distributed on this continent cannot be ruled out.…”

“…Several years later, Santos et al (2017) reported the same fish species infected with AFT in Santa Catarina State. More recently, S. acheilognathi was found in a free-living native species, Rineloricaria pentamaculata, by Souza et al (2018) in the state of Santa Catarina. According to these reports, the prevalence of infection was lower than that reported here (30/229, 13%; 1/15, 6.6%), but research focusing on the health of fish in the presented stream here is necessary.…”