Parasites of ornamental fish imported into Australia

Five commonly imported freshwater ornamental fish: Poecilia reticulata (guppy); Xiphophorus maculatus (platy); Paracheirodon innesi (neon tetra); Paracheirodon axelrodi (cardinal tetra); and Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (sucking catfish), 361 individuals in total, were examined for parasites immediately after being released from quarantine in Australia. Ten parasites species were found: Camallanus cotti; Centrocestus formosanus; Bothriocephalus acheilognathi; Urocleidoides reticulatus; Tetrahymena corlissi; Chilodonella piscicola; Hexamita sp.; Cryptobia sp.; Chloromyxum sp.; and an unidentified larval nematode. Though shipments had come from up to five different exporting companies, parasite prevalence was uniformly high. We suggest that prior to release, fish transported internationally should be checked for high risk pathogens such as Camallanus cotti, B. acheilognathi and Centrocestus formosanus, and treated for common infections such as Hexamita sp., Cryptobia sp. T. corlissi and Chilodonella piscicola to inhibit the spread of disease and enhance the survival of the fish.

Phylogeny of the kinetoplastida: taxonomic problems and insights into the evolution of parasitism

To further investigate phylogeny of kinetoplastid protozoa, the sequences of small subunit (18S) ribosomal RNA of nine bodonid isolates and ten isolates of insect trypanosomatids have been determined. The root of the kinetoplastid tree was attached to the branch of Bodo designis and/or Cruzella marina. The suborder Trypanosomatina appeared as a monophyletic group, while the suborder Bodonina was paraphyletic. Among bodonid lineages, parasitic organisms were intermingled with free-living ones, implying multiple transitions to parasitism and supporting the `vertebrate-first hypothesis'. The tree indicated that the genera Cryptobia and Bodo are artificial taxa. Separation of fish cryptobias and Trypanoplasma borreli as different genera was not supported. In trypanosomatids, the genera Leptomonas and Blastocrithidia were polyphyletic, similar to the genera Herpetomonas and Crithidia and in contrast to the monophyletic genera Trypanosoma and Phytomonas. This analysis has shown that the morphological classification of kinetoplastids does not in general reflect their genetic affinities and needs a revision.

Isopod fauna, excluding Epicaridea, from the Strait of Gibraltar and nearby areas (Southern Iberian Peninsula)

A total of 42 isopod species from the Strait of Gibraltar and nearby areas were found, including the first record of Munna fabricii, Monodanthura maroccana, Campecopea hirsute, and Natatolana gallica from the Mediterranean; Synisoma nadejda and Uromunna petiti from the Atlantic; and Munna fabricii, Uromunna petiti, Monodanthura maroccana, Stellanthura cryptobia and Natatolana gallica from the Iberian waters. This article includes the previous records from the Iberian waters for all the species. The greatest number of species were found in Tarifa (16 species), located in the transition zone between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. According to depth, the distribution of species was as follows: 18 species were collected in the intertidal zone, mostly Dynamene edwardsi and Ischyromene lacazei; 33 species were found between 1 and 10 m, 13 species were found between 11 and 20 m, and 6 species were found between 21 and 28 m, mostly Janira maculosa. According to habitat, 16 species were collected on soft bottoms, 2 species on Zostera, and 22 species on algae substrata, mostly Halopteris, Asparagopsis and Cystoseira. The most diverse genus was Cymodoce (5 species). This paper contributes to the taxonomic, faunistic and biogeographical knowledge of the benthic communities from the Strait of Gibraltar and nearby areas.

Prevalência, distribuição geográfica e sazonal de protozoários e mixozoários parasitos de jaú (Zungaro jahu) no Pantanal Matogrossense

Estudo realizado no Pantanal Matogrossense, avaliou a prevalência, a distribuição geográfica e sazonal de protozoários e mixozoários parasitos de jaú (Zungaro jahu). Os peixes foram capturados no Sul do Pantanal, na região dos rios Aquidauana, Miranda e Paraguai, em 2001, 2002 e 2003, na região Central (Parque Nacional do Pantanal - PARNA Pantanal) em 2003, 2004, 2005 e 2008, e na região Norte (rios Cuiabá e Manso, no município de Nobres) em 2003, 2004 e 2005. Foi identificado Trichodina sp. parasitando pele e brânquias de jaú nas três regiões estudadas. Ocorrência de Epistylis sp. na pele e Cryptobia sp. nas brânquias foram restritas às coletas da região Central, enquanto Ichthyophthirius multifiliis foi identificado parasitando a pele nas três regiões estudadas. Também foi observada a ocorrência de mixozoários, Myxobolus cordeiroi parasitando vários órgãos e Henneguya sp. parasitando brânquias de jaú das três regiões estudadas.

Prevalence, geographic and seasonal distribution of protozoan and myxozoan parasites of jau (Zungaro jahu)

Adriano E.A., Ceccarelli P.S., Silva M.R.M. & Maia A.A. M. 2012. [Prevalence, geographic and seasonal distribution of protozoan and myxozoan parasites of jau (Zungaro jahu) in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil.] Prevalencia, distribuicao geografica e sazonal de protozoarios e mixozoarios parasitos de jau (Zungaro jahu) no Pantanal Matogrossense. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 32(12):1341-1344. Departamento de Ciencias Basicas, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte 225, Pirassununga, SP 13635-900, Brazil. E-mail: antomaia@usp.br In a study carried out in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil, the prevalence, geographic and seasonal distribution of protozoan and myxozoan parasites of Zungaro jahu was evaluated. The fish were captured in the southern region of Pantanal Mato-grossense (Aquidauana, Miranda and Paraguay rivers) in 2001, 2002 and 2003, in the central region (Pantanal National Park - PARNA Pantanal) in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008, and in the northern region (Cuiaba and Manso rivers, in the municipality of Nobres) in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Trichodina sp. was identified parasitized skin and gills of jau in the three regions studied. Epistylis sp. parasitized skin and Cryptobia sp. the gills and were restricted to the Central region, whilst Ichthyophthirius multifiliis parasitized skin in the three regions studied. The occurrence of myxozoans was also observed: Myxobolus cordeiroi parasitized several organs and Henneguya sp. parasitized the gills of jau in the three regions studied.

Prevalência, distribuição geográfica e sazonal de protozoários e mixozoários parasitos de jaú (Zungaro jahu) no Pantanal Matogrossense

Estudo realizado no Pantanal Matogrossense, avaliou a prevalência, a distribuição geográfica e sazonal de protozoários e mixozoários parasitos de jaú (Zungaro jahu). Os peixes foram capturados no Sul do Pantanal, na região dos rios Aquidauana, Miranda e Paraguai, em 2001, 2002 e 2003, na região Central (Parque Nacional do Pantanal - PARNA Pantanal) em 2003, 2004, 2005 e 2008, e na região Norte (rios Cuiabá e Manso, no município de Nobres) em 2003, 2004 e 2005. Foi identificado Trichodina sp. parasitando pele e brânquias de jaú nas três regiões estudadas. Ocorrência de Epistylis sp. na pele e Cryptobia sp. nas brânquias foram restritas às coletas da região Central, enquanto Ichthyophthirius multifiliis foi identificado parasitando a pele nas três regiões estudadas. Também foi observada a ocorrência de mixozoários, Myxobolus cordeiroi parasitando vários órgãos e Henneguya sp. parasitando brânquias de jaú das três regiões estudadas.

Summary study of gill ectoparasite infections and their histopathologic effects in four species of freshwater ornamental fishes

Ornamental fish are more expensive in comparison with the other fish. It especially highlights in non-breeding fish (in imported one for importation costs). But of course, with entering the new and unhealthy fishes to aquarium or ponds, they may transmit a pathogen to others (interfere with Iran ornamental fish parasitic fauna). In this study (Dec. 2008- Sep. 2009), 400 fish gill arch from 4 species of ornamental fish (within focus on imported fish); namely, i.e. Goldfish (Carassius auratus), platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus), Dwarf gourami (Colisa lalia) and Catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus) were inspected for gill ectoparasites and then pathologic effects (but in high- affected gill). In this study, seven protozoan and ten metazoan species, indeed seventeen parasite species were identified. Protozan parasites consist of: Trichodina spp. and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis were found in four fish species; Ichthyobodo necatrix (Costia necator/C. necatrix) and Cryptobia branchialis, were respectively found in Dwarf gourami and goldfish. The highest prevalence belongs to Ichthyophthirius (47%) in platyfish. Metazoan parasites consist of: Ancyrocephalus sp. (Dwarf gourami), Ancylodiscoides spp. (catfish and platyfish), Dactylogyrus vastator, D. baueri, D. formosus (only in goldfish) and Gyrodactylus spp. (in four fish species). The highest prevalence was related to Dactylogyrus vastator(82%) in goldfish. Histological effects in case with high prevalence of parasite were also observed, e.g., hypertrophy, Lamellar hyperplasia and fusion. In high-parasitized gill, there is dysfunction of gill.