Parasitic communities of Hoplosternum littorale (Hancock, 1828) as indicators of environmental impact

ABSTRACT The parasites are indicative of several biological aspects of their hosts, including their diet, migration, recruitment and phylogeny, but they can also be direct indicators of the environmental quality. Hoplosternum littorale is a fish that has a high commercial value in some South American countries. The fishes were collected from January to July 2012, in two locations of the Peixe River in the municipality of Anhembi, State of São Paulo, Brazil, which had different environmental and limnological characteristics (river mouth and Lagoa Cabeça de Boi). An amount of 30 fish specimens were captured in each location for the analysis of their parasitic fauna. Nine species of metazoan parasites were collected. Both Brillouin`s diversity index and Margalef`s richness index were greater in the Lagoa Cabeça de Boi. The ratio of heteroxenous and monoxenous parasite species richness (SH/SM) was higher in the Lagoa Cabeça de Boi. The results of the physicochemical analysis of the water showed that the mouth of the Peixe River can be considered an area that suffers more from anthropogenic actions than the Lagoa da Cabeça de Boi. Proteocephalus sp., Gyrodactylus sp., Scleroductus sp. and Capillaria (Neocapillaria) pterophylli are being registered for the first time in this host.

Metazoan parasite of lambari Astyanax altiparanae, collected from the Peixe river, São Paulo, southeast of Brazil / Metazoários parasitos de lambari Astyanax altiparanae, coletados do rio do Peixe, São Paulo, sudeste do Brasil

ABSTRACT: In March 2010, 44 specimens of Astyanax altiparanae Garutti & Britski, 2000, commonly known as "lambari do rabo amarelo", collected from the Peixe river in the state of São Paulo, Brazil were analyzed. Out of these 44 fishes, 38 had at least one species of metazoan parasite. Fifteen metazoan parasites species were collected and identified: Urocleidoides trinidadensis, Diaphorocleidus kabatai, Diaphorocleidus orthodusus, Diaphorocleidus sp., Urocleidoides sp., Trinibaculum altiparanae, Gyrodactylus sp., Jainus hexops, Contracaecum sp., Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Vaigamus sp., Amplexibranchius bryconis, Ergasilus sp., Zonocotyloides haroltravassossi and Henneguya sp. Six species of parasites presented a prevalence of over 10%. Weight and length of fishes didn't influence the parasitism. All parasites presented an aggregated distribution. The parasite community of Astyanax altiparanae from the Peixe river was characterized as having high richness and low uniformity.

RESUMO: Em março de 2010, foram coletados e analisados 44 espécimes de Astyanax altiparanae Garutti & Britski, 2000, conhecidos popularmente como lambari do rabo amarelo, provenientes do rio do Peixe, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Dos 44 peixes analisados, 38 estavam parasitados por pelo menos uma espécie de metazoário parasito. Quinze espécies de metazoários parasitos foram coletadas e identificadas: Urocleidoides trinidadensis, Diaphorocleidus kabatai, Diaphorocleidus orthodusus, Diaphorocleidus sp., Urocleidoides sp., Trinibaculum altiparanae, Gyrodactylus sp., Jainus hexops, Contracaecum sp., Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Vaigamus sp., Amplexibranchius bryconis, Ergasilus sp., Zonocotyloides haroltravassossi e Henneguya sp. Os parasitos D. kabatai, U. trinidadensis, J. hexops, P. (S.) inopinatus e Vaigamus sp. apresentaram prevalências superiores a 10%. O peso e o comprimento dos peixes não influenciaram no parasitismo. Todos os parasitos apresentaram distribuição agregada. A comunidade parasitária de Astyanax altiparanae proveniente do rio do Peixe foi caracterizada por alta riqueza e baixa uniformidade.

Community ecology of metazoan parasites of the sairú Cyphocharax nagelii from the Peixe River / Ecologia da comunidade de metazoários parasitos do sairú Cyphocharax nagelii do Rio do Peixe

A total of 57 sairus (Cyphocharax nagelii) from the Peixe River, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, were examined between April 2011 and February 2012. Eleven species of metazoan parasites were collected and identified: Palombitrema triangulum, Curvianchoratus hexacleidus, Curvianchoratus singularis, Sphincterodiplostomum musculosum, Contracaecum sp., Cacatuocotyle paranaensis, Cosmoxynemoides aguirrei, Amplexibranchius bryconis, Brasergasilus sp., Ergasilus sp. and Clinostomum sp. The monogenean P. triangulum was the most prevalent species (61.40%) with the highest mean intensity (4.88). The monogeneans C. hexacleidus and C. singularis, the digenean S. musculosum and the nematode Contracaecum sp. also showed high prevalence. Only S. musculosum presented significant correlation between the total body weight of the host and its abundance. The parasitic infracommunities had a mean Brillouin diversity (HB) of 1.165 ± 0.987 and the maximum diversity was 1.671. The sex and length of the hosts did not influence the abundance of any parasite species. The community of metazoans in C. nagelii from the Peixe River was characterized by high richness and low uniformity.

Cinquenta e sete "sairú" (Cyphocharax nagelii) foram examinados entre abril de 2011 e fevereiro de 2012, provenientes do Rio do Peixe, Estado de São Paulo, Sudeste do Brasil. Onze espécies de metazoários parasitos foram coletadas e identificadas: Palombitrema triangulum, Curvianchoratus hexacleidus, Curvianchoratus singularis, Sphincterodiplostomum musculosum, Contracaecum sp., Cacatuocotyle paranaensis, Cosmoxynemoides aguirrei, Amplexibranchius bryconis, Brasergasilus sp., Ergasilus sp., Clinostomum sp. O monogenético P. triangulum foi o parasito mais prevalente (61,40%) e com a maior intensidade média (4,88). Os monogenéticos C. hexacleidus e C. singularis, o digenético S. musculosum e o nematóide Contracaecum sp. também apresentaram alta prevalência. Apenas S. musculosum apresentou correlação significativa entre o peso total do corpo do hospedeiro e sua abundância. As infracomunidades parasitárias tiveram uma diversidade média de Brillouin (HB) =1,165±0,987 e a diversidade máxima foi de 1,671. O sexo e comprimento dos hospedeiros não influenciaram a abundância parasitária. A comunidade de metazoários de C. nagelii no Rio do Peixe foi caracterizada pela alta riqueza e baixa uniformidade.