Endohelminths in Cichla piquiti (Perciformes, Cichlidae) from the Paraná River, São Paulo State, Brazil

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 475 - 484
• Main Authors: Franceschini, Lidiane, Zago, Aline Cristina, Zocoller-Seno, Maria Conceição, Veríssimo-Silveira, Rosicleire, Ninhaus-Silveira, Alexandre, da Silva, Reinaldo José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01-10-2013; Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil; Cichlids - parasitology; Female; Fish Diseases - parasitology; Helminthiasis, Animal - parasitology; Helminths - isolation & purification; Helminths - physiology; Hysterothylacium sp. larvae; introduced fish; Larva; Male; New host; PARASITOLOGY; peacock bass; Proteocephalus microscopicus; Rivers; VETERINARY SCIENCES; Brazil; Proteocephalus microscopicus; introduced fish; peixe introduzido; tucunaré; Hysterothylacium sp. larvae; New host; Novo hospedeiro; peacock bass
• ISSN: 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612013000400006

Fifty specimens of Cichla piquiti were collected from the Paraná River downstream of the Ilha Solteira Hydroelectric Power Station in Brazil and surveyed for endohelminth parasites. All fish were parasitised by at least one helminth species (overall prevalence [P] = 100%). Eight parasite taxa were present: the nematode Procamallanus (Procamallanus) peraccuratus in the intestines; third-stage larvae of the anisakids Contracaecum sp. and Hysterothylacium sp. in the visceral cavity, mesentery and serosa of the stomach and intestines and on the liver and spleen; the trematodes Austrodiplostomum compactum in the eye (metacercariae) and Genarchella genarchella in the stomach; and the cestodes Proteocephalus macrophallus, Proteocephalus microscopicus, and Sciadocephalus megalodiscus in the intestines. Hysterothylacium sp. larvae (P = 86%) and P. microscopicus (P = 74%) were the most prevalent parasites. Anisakids were more prevalent and abundant in the dry season. A negative correlation between the abundances of Hysterothylacium sp. and P. microscopicus was observed, suggesting a competitive/antagonistic relationship between these parasites. Cichla piquiti represents a new host for four parasite species. These new records significantly increase the list of parasites of C. piquiti, contributing to the knowledge of the host-parasite relationship and the geographical distribution of these helminths.