First Report of the Introduction of an Australian Temnocephalidan into the New World

Abstract

One of the preferred freshwater crayfish species in astaciculture is the large parastacid Cherax quadricarinatus, a native to Australia. This crayfish yields good production in warm water, and, therefore, it has been translocated from Australia to other countries. One such country is Uruguay, where the initial attempt in astaciculture is being conducted. In a Uruguayan crayfish farm, a large number of Diceratocephala boschmai (Platyhelminthes, Temnocephalida) were found on the body surface and branchial chamber of C. quadricarinatus. This is the first report of an introduced temnocephalidan in the New World, and of D. boschmai in a locality outside Australia/New Guinea. The original description of D. boschmai was based on a few characters that separated this species from the other Temnocephalida; therefore, a detailed description of the Uruguayan population of D. boschmai is also provided. The conditions in which D. boschmai is found in Uruguay are suitable for its development and reproduction. This raises concern about the effect that its release into the environment might have.

Red swamp crayfish: biology, ecology and invasion - an overview

“…Branchiobdellidans (Annelida, Clitellata) may also be observed on crayfishes, including P. clarkii, but infestations usually take place only when individuals are already ill; infested healthy animals are rarely found . Temnocephalids are predominantly found in the southern hemisphere and no branchobdellid species occur naturally in the southern hemisphere (Holt, 1975) although both groups have been found outside their native range, as well as many other crayfish diseases, due to anthropogenic movements of the crayfish host (Gelder, 1999;Volonterio, 2009).…”

Diseases of crayfish: A review

“…The anterior processes and the posterior sucker are predominately used in attachment to and locomotion around the host (Sewell and Whittington, 1995). Temnocephalids are predominantly found in the southern hemisphere although they can occur in the northern hemisphere, usually resulting from anthropogenic movements of the crayfish host (Gelder, 1999;Volonterio, 2009).…”

Contributions to the knowledge of Pseudolevinseniella (Trematoda: Digenea) and temnocephalans from alien crayfish in natural freshwaters of Thailand

“…In astaciculture, Cherax is a commercial, semi-commercial and pet markets in Australia, Europe and the southern United States (Holdich, 1993, 1999; Veselý et al . , 2015); Cherax may be transferred from its origin to other countries (Holdich, 1993; Volonterio, 2009; Kawai et al., 2015). The redclaw crayfish ( C. quadricarinatus von Martens, 1868) inhabits Australian freshwater and has been introduced to other countries, such as for aquaculture farming (New, 2003; Patoka et al., 2016), because it is tolerant to various environmental conditions (Lin et al., 1999; Jones et al., 2000).…”