Ectoparasites community in Satanoperca jurupari (Cichlidae) from the Jari River, a tributary from Amazon River in Northern Brazil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the gills parasites in Satanoperca jurupari from the Jari River, state of Amapá, in eastern Amazon (Brazil). The gills of 100% of the hosts were parasitized by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Protozoa), Sciadicleithrum juruparii (Monogenoidea) Genarchella genarchella, Posthodiplostomum sp. (Digenea) Ergasilus coatiarus and Argulus multicolor (Crustacea), and a total of 27,043 parasites were collected. However, the dominance was of I. multifiliis and there was aggregated dispersion of parasites with greater discrepancy for S. juruparii and A. multicolor. Low species richness of parasites (3.1 ± 1.1), low Brillouin diversity index (0.27 ± 0.23), low evenness (0.16 ± 0.13) and high dominance of Berger-Parker (0.88 ± 0.15) were found. The community of parasites in S. jurupari was characterized by low species richness, low diversity and low evenness, with high prevalence and low abundance. The size of host did not have any influence on the parasites community, but the host behavior and availability of infective stages of the parasites were factors structuring the community of ectoparasites found here.

Ectoparasites community in Satanoperca jurupari (Cichlidae) from the Jari River, a tributary from Amazon River in Northern Brazil / Comunidade de ectoparasitos em Satanoperca jurupari (Cichlidae) do Rio Jari, um tributário do Rio Amazonas no Norte do Brasil

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the gills parasites in Satanoperca jurupari from the Jari River, state of Amapá, in eastern Amazon (Brazil). The gills of 100% of the hosts were parasitized by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Protozoa), Sciadicleithrum juruparii (Monogenoidea) Genarchella genarchella, Posthodiplostomum sp. (Digenea) Ergasilus coatiarus and Argulus multicolor (Crustacea), and a total of 27,043 parasites were collected. However, the dominance was of I. multifiliis and there was aggregated dispersion of parasites with greater discrepancy for S. juruparii and A. multicolor. Low species richness of parasites (3.1 ± 1.1), low Brillouin diversity index (0.27 ± 0.23), low evenness (0.16 ± 0.13) and high dominance of Berger-Parker (0.88 ± 0.15) were found. The community of parasites in S. jurupari was characterized by low species richness, low diversity and low evenness, with high prevalence and low abundance. The size of host did not have any influence on the parasites community, but the host behavior and availability of infective stages of the parasites were factors structuring the community of ectoparasites found here.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a comunidade de parasitos das brânquias de Satanoperca jurupari do Rio Jari, Estado do Amapá, região da Amazônia oriental (Brasil). As brânquias de 100% dos hospedeiros estavam parasitadas por Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Protozoa), Sciadicleithrum juruparii (Monogenoidea), Genarchella genarchella, Posthodiplostomum sp. (Digenea), Ergasilus coatiarus e Argulus multicolor (Crustacea) e foi coletado um total de 27.043 parasitos. Porém, a dominância foi de I. multifiliis e houve dispersão agregada de parasitos com maior discrepância de S. juruparii e A. multicolor. Foi encontrada uma baixa riqueza de espécies de parasitos (3,1 ± 1,1), baixa de diversidade de Brillouin (0,27 ± 0,23), baixa equitabilidade do índice de diversidade (0,16 ± 0,13) e elevada dominância de Berger-Parker (0,88 ± 0,15). A comunidade de parasitos foi caracterizada por baixa riqueza de espécies, baixa diversidade, baixa uniformidade, alta prevalência e baixa abundância. O tamanho dos hospedeiros não teve influência sobre a comunidade parasitos, mas o comportamento dos hospedeiros e a disponibilidade de formas infectantes dos parasitos foram os fatores estruturando a comunidade dos ectoparasitos encontrados.

Parasitic diversity of a wild Satanoperca jurupari population, an ornamental cichlid in the Brazilian Amazon / Diversidade parasitária de uma população natural de Satanoperca jurupari, um ciclídeo ornamental na Amazônia brasileira

ABSTRACT Assessment of biodiversity is fundamental for the understanding of ecological interactions, but fish parasites were neglected in biodiversity estimates for a long time. The aim of this paper was to investigate the diversity of parasites in Satanoperca jurupari in the Amazon River system in Brazil. Of the fish examined, 90.0% were parasitized by one or more species of protozoans and metazoans, and a total of 3,110,094 parasites were collected. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Piscinoodinium pillulare, Sciadicleithum juruparii, Clinostomum marginatum, Posthodiplostomum sp., Genarchella genarchella, Argulus multicolor and Ergasilus coatiarus were found. However, I. multifiliis and P. pillulare were the most prevalent, abundant and dominant parasites, while A. multicolor and G. genarchella were the least prevalent and abundant parasites. The parasites had an aggregate dispersion, but E. coatiarus and the endoparasite species had a higher aggregation pattern. The species richness of parasites varied from 1 to 8 species per host, the Brillouin index varied from 0.32 to 1.09 and evenness varied from 0.01 to 0.47. The host size did not influence the diversity indices and the abundance of parasites, which did not affect the body condition of the hosts. Satanoperca jurupari is a new host for G. genarchella.

RESUMO A avaliação da biodiversidade é fundamental para a compreensão das interações ecológicas, mas os parasitas de peixes foram negligenciados nas estimativas de biodiversidade durante muito tempo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a diversidade de parasitos em Satanoperca jurupari do sistema do Rio Amazonas no Brasil. Dos peixes examinados, 90,0% estavam parasitados por uma ou mais espécies de protozoários e metazoários, e um total de 3.110.094 parasitos foram coletados. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Piscinoodinium pillulare, Sciadicleithum juruparii, Clinostomum marginatus, Posthodiplostomum sp., Genarchella genarchella, Argulus multicolor e Ergasilus coatiarus foram os parasitos encontrados. Porém, I. multifiliis e P. pillulare foram os parasitos mais prevalentes, abundantes e dominantes, enquanto A. multicolor e G. genarchella foram os parasitas menos prevalentes e abundantes. Estes parasitas tiveram uma dispersão agregada, mas E. coatiarus e os endoparasitos apresentaram um padrão de agregação mais elevado. A riqueza de espécies de parasitos variou de 1 a 8 espécies por hospedeiro, o índice de Brillouin variou de 0,32 a 1,09 e a uniformidade variou de 0.01 a 0.47. O tamanho dos hospedeiros não influenciou os índices de diversidade e abundância parasitária, que não afetaram a condição corporal dos peixes. Satanoperca jurupari é um novo hospedeiro para G. genarchella.

Antiparasitic activity, histopathology and physiology of Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui) exposed to the essential oil of Lippia sidoides (Verbenaceae).

In vivo and in vitro antiparasitic activity of the essential oil of Lippia sidoides and blood and histological alterations were assessed in Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui). Essential oil concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320mg/L were assayed in vitro against monogenoideans Anacanthorus spathulatus, Notozothecium janauachensis and Mymarothecium boegeri from fish gills. Lippia sidoides essential oil concentrations of 320 and 160mg/L were 100% effective against monogenoideans in 10min and 1h of exposure, respectively. However, the effectiveness of 100% concentrations of 80mg/L and 40mg/L occurred in 3 and 6h, respectively. In the in vivo tests, juvenile fish were submitted to 60min of baths with 10mg/L and 15min of baths with 20mg/L of the essential oil of L. sidoides. These therapeutic baths were not efficient against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, and monogenoideans present in the gills of C. macropomum. In addition, 10 and 20mg/L of the essential oil of L. sidoides caused an anesthetic effect on the fish and did not influence total glucose and protein plasma levels; however, it decreased the number of total erythrocytes in fish exposed to the higher concentration of this essential oil. Severe alterations and irreversible damage were observed in the fish gills just after L. sidoides essential oil baths and after 24h of recovery. The most recurrent lesions found were hyperplasia and fusion of the lamellar epithelium, vasodilation, detachment of the gill epithelium and lamellar aneurism, epithelial breakdown with hemorrhage, congestion, edema and necrosis, proliferation of the mucous cells and chloride cells and lamellar hypertrophy. Therefore, since the essential oil of L. sidoides has in vitro antiparasitic activity and low concentrations of it have shown toxic effects, the bioactive potential of its main chemical components should be investigated, as well as more efficient forms of its administration in therapeutic baths in order to eliminate fish parasites.

Seasonal pattern in parasite infracommunities of Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus and Hoplias malabaricus (Actinopterygii: Erythrinidae) from the Brazilian Amazon.

The present study investigated the effects of seasonal variation in parasites infracommunities of Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus and Hoplias malabaricus from a tributary of Amazon River. For H. unitaeniatus and H. malabaricus, 11 parasite species were similar, and greatest parasite richness occurred during the rainy season. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis was the dominant parasite species for both hosts. In H. unitaeniatus, infection by Whittingtonocotyle caetei, Whittingtonocotyle jeju, Urocleidoides sp. and Anacanthorus sp. was higher during rainy season. Contracaecum sp., Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Nomimoscolex matogrossensis and Gorytocephalus spectabilis showed no seasonal pattern. For H. unitaeniatus, P. pillulare, Clinostomum marginatum and Argulus pestifer occurred only during dry season, while Trichodina sp., Dolops geayi, undetermined metacercariae and Posthodiplostomum sp. occurred only during the rainy season. In H. malabaricus, the prevalence of Urocleidoides eremitus was similar during the two seasons, but abundance was higher during the rainy season. Tetrahymena sp., C. marginatum, Dendrorchis neivai, undetermined metacercariae, Posthodiplostomum sp., Genarchella genarchella, Cystidicoloides sp., G. spectabilis, D. geayi, A. pestifer and Glossiphonidae gen. sp. occurred only during the dry season. However, Contracaecum sp. and P. (S.) inopinatus occurred during both seasons, but the prevalence of P. (S.) inopinatus was higher during the rainy season. Seasonal variation in this infection levels was due to the host's feeding behavior and habits and the availability of infectious forms of parasites with heteroxenic life cycles. The non-seasonal fluctuation detected are likely a result of the parasites biology, highly variable nature of this tributary of Amazon River and low abundance of parasites.

Ecology and seasonal variation of parasites in wild Aequidens tetramerus, a Cichlidae from the Amazon.

This study is the first investigation on seasonal dynamics of parasites component community of the Aequidens tetramerus from an Amazon River tributary, in Northern Brazil. A total of 239,2407 parasites were recovered from 92 hosts examined from February to October 2011. Such parasites included Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Tripartiella tetramerii and Trichodina nobilis (Protozoa), Dolops longicauda (Argulidae), Gussevia alioides, Gussevia disparoides (Monogenoidea), Digenea metacercarie, Pseudoproleptus larvae, Anisakidae larvae (Nematoda), Proteocephalidea plerocercoid (Eucestoda) and Gorytocephalus spectabilis (Acanthocephala). Ciliates were the most dominant and abundant taxon, while cestodes were the least prevalent. The parasites showed seasonal variation in their infection dynamics associated with environmental changes during the Amazonian drainage season, except the infection with I. multifiliis. The parasites community in A. tetramerus was also characterized by higher diversity, species richness and uniformity during the drainage season when compared to Amazon flood season. With the exception of T. tetramerii, these parasite species are new records for A. tetramerus.