Drivers of richness and abundance of parasites of fishes from an intermittent river before and after an interbasin water transfer in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

This study examined the metrics of the macroparasite community in fishes from the Jaguaribe River basin, state of Ceará, before and after receiving water from the São Francisco River in Northeastern Brazil. This research assessed the association of environmental factors (water parameters) and the traits of 30 fish species on the parasite richness and abundance across space (river course) and time (seasons, pre- and post-transposition periods). Generalized linear models reveal associations between parasite metrics and host traits, water parameters, and river sub-basin. Host size and body condition positively correlated with parasite richness and abundance, while reproductive phase was negatively related. Water quality impacted ecto- and endoparasites differently, with seasonal and sub-basins variations and differences among sub-basins. The general models also indicate that the period is a significant variable, where parasite richness decreases while abundance increases in the post-transposition period. This study underscores the importance of considering diverse environmental and host variables for understanding parasite dynamics in river ecosystems. These findings could lead to valuable insights for ecosystem management and conservation, elucidating the potential consequences of environmental alterations on parasite-host interactions and ecosystem health.

Endoparasitic diversity from the Southern Ocean: is it really low in Antarctic fish?

The biodiversity and composition of endoparasites in fish obtained from the Antarctic and subantarctic zones are compared in this study. Several fish were collected in the summer from Antarctica (King George Island) and the Southern Pacific coast (Strait of Magellan and Almirante Montt Gulf). This database was complemented with published information on fish endoparasite communities from both zones, with specimens of fish sample size n ≥ 15. Thus, 31 fish species were analysed in this study, which altogether had 79 parasite species. Diversity indices were calculated for the parasite community of each fish species. Then they were compared between the Antarctic and subantarctic zones. Parasite species composition and host specificity (as the number of fish species used by a parasite species) were also analysed and compared between zones. The diversity indices and the abundance of parasites were significantly higher in the Antarctic than the subantarctic fish. Few parasite species (7.6%) were shared between fish from both zones, showing significant differences in parasite composition. Antarctic parasites were less host-specific than subantarctic parasites, which allowed the coexistence of several parasite species in the fish. The high parasite abundance in Antarctic fish could trigger sympatric speciation in certain parasitic lineages or the exploitation of new resources, resulting in more parasite species than those in subantarctic environments. The high abundance of Antarctic parasites implies different methods and rates of transmission than those of subantarctic parasites. In addition, more alternative fish hosts were used by the Antarctic than subantarctic parasites. This altogether indicates that host-parasite interaction dynamics significantly differ between the Antarctic and subantarctic systems.

Diseases and parasites of wild and cultivated mussels along the Patagonian coast of Argentina, southwest Atlantic Ocean.

A histological survey of the commercially edible mussels Mytilus platensis and M. chilensis from wild and cultivated populations along the coast of Patagonia, Argentina (42°00' to 54°47'S), was carried out to determine their health status. Diagnostic results included 3 types of inflammatory responses (infiltrative, nodular, and encapsulation), disseminated neoplasia disease, 2 abnormal reproductive conditions (gonadal atresia and intersex), prokaryotic inclusions, protozoans, and metazoans. Pathogen prevalence and infection intensity among mussels of different sampling sites and between those of wild and cultivated populations were compared. Inflammatory responses were recorded in all mussels from all sites, while disseminated neoplasia only occurred in the most southern cultivated M. chilensis. Intracellular prokaryotic inclusions were broadly distributed in the mussels from both northern and southern Patagonian coasts. Ciliates showed the highest prevalence among wild mussels from the colder waters of Bahía Brown. Turbellaria were recorded at higher prevalence in cultured mussels (41.7%), and trematode metacercariae occurred exclusively in intertidal wild mussels. None of the parasites found appears to be a problem to the fishery or farming, although disseminated neoplasia should be monitored. In addition, we found that mytilid species coexisting with M. platensis (Aulacomya atra and Perumytilus purpuratus) at one location shared the same pathological conditions and parasites, which differed from those of M. platensis at a distant locality. These results suggest that pathological conditions and parasites were influenced more by ecological habitat factors than by the species of mussels present, based on similar parasite assemblages found among closely related mytilid hosts in the same geographical area.

Host associations and turnover of haemosporidian parasites in manakins (Aves: Pipridae).

Parasites of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) are a diverse group of pathogens that infect birds nearly worldwide. Despite their ubiquity, the ecological and evolutionary factors that shape the diversity and distribution of these protozoan parasites among avian communities and geographic regions are poorly understood. Based on a survey throughout the Neotropics of the haemosporidian parasites infecting manakins (Pipridae), a family of Passerine birds endemic to this region, we asked whether host relatedness, ecological similarity and geographic proximity structure parasite turnover between manakin species and local manakin assemblages. We used molecular methods to screen 1343 individuals of 30 manakin species for the presence of parasites. We found no significant correlations between manakin parasite lineage turnover and both manakin species turnover and geographic distance. Climate differences, species turnover in the larger bird community and parasite lineage turnover in non-manakin hosts did not correlate with manakin parasite lineage turnover. We also found no evidence that manakin parasite lineage turnover among host species correlates with range overlap and genetic divergence among hosts. Our analyses indicate that host switching (turnover among host species) and dispersal (turnover among locations) of haemosporidian parasites in manakins are not constrained at this scale.

Helminth fauna parasitizing Pimelodus pohli (Actinopterygii: Pimelodidae) from the upper São Francisco River, Brazil / Helmintofauna de Pimelodus pohli (Actinopterygii: Pimelodidae) do alto rio São Francisco, Brasil

The parasite fauna of catfish, Pimelodus pohli, from the São Francisco River Basin is presented. A total of 45 catfish from the upper São Francisco River (45°15′44″W 18°13′25″S), were examined from July 2009 to September 2011. Forty-three catfish (95.5%) were infected by at least one parasite species, with 885 parasite specimens being found, distributed across 17 species: Monogenea (Demidospermus uncusvalidus, Pavanelliella pavanellii, and Scleroductus sp.); Eucestoda (plerocercoids of Proteocephalidea); Digenea (metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum compactum, adults of Auriculostoma platense and Kalipharynx sp., and juvenile of Prosthenhystera obesa); Nematoda (larvae of Contracaecum sp., Hysterothylacium sp., Procamallanus pimelodus, Procamallanus sp., and unidentified of Cucullanidae, and adults of Cucullanus caballeroi, Philometra sp., and Procamallanus freitasi); and Acanthocephala (adults of Neoechinorhynchus pimelodi). Procamallanus freitasi and Scleroductus sp. were the taxa with the highest prevalence. Demidospermus uncusvalidus, P. freitasi, and Scleroductus sp. were the dominant species. The host's sex did not influence parasitic indexes; however, the total length of the catfish did appear to have some influence. The parasites, with except for P. obesa, were registered for the first time in P. pohli, as well as the occurrence of Kalipharynx sp. and C. caballeroi among pimelodid hosts from São Francisco River and South America.

A fauna parasitária de mandis, Pimelodus pohli da bacia do rio São Francisco é apresentada. Um total de 45 mandis do alto rio São Francisco (45°15′44″W 18°13′25″S), foram examinados entre julho de 2009 e setembro de 2011. Quarenta e três mandis (95,5%) estavam infectados por pelo menos uma espécie de parasito tendo sido encontrados 885 parasitos de 17 espécies: Monogenea (Demidospermus uncusvalidus, Pavanelliella pavanellii, and Scleroductus sp.); Eucestoda (plerocercóides de Proteocephalidea); Digenea (metacercárias de Austrodiplostomum compactum, adultos de Auriculostoma platense e Kalipharynx sp. e juvenil de Prosthenhystera obesa); Nematoda (larvas de Contracaecum sp., Hysterothylacium sp., Procamallanus pimelodus, Procamallanus sp., larvas não identificadas de Cucullanidae e adultos de Cucullanus caballeroi, Philometra sp. e Procamallanus freitasi); e Acanthocephala (adultos de Neoechinorhynchus pimelodi). Procamallanus freitasi e Scleroductus sp. foram os táxons com prevalência mais elevada. Demidospermus uncusvalidus, P. freitasi e Scleroductus sp. foram as espécies dominantes. O sexo dos hospedeiros não influenciou os índices parasitários, mas houve alguma influência do comprimento total sobre eles. Os parasitos, com exceção de P. obesa, são registrados pela primeira vez em P. pohli, bem como a ocorrência de Kalipharynx sp. e C. caballeroi em hospedeiros pimelodídeos do rio São Francisco e da América do Sul.

Helminth fauna parasitizing Pimelodus pohli (Actinopterygii: Pimelodidae) from the upper São Francisco River, Brazil / Helmintofauna de Pimelodus pohli (Actinopterygii: Pimelodidae) do alto rio São Francisco, Brasil

The parasite fauna of catfish, Pimelodus pohli, from the São Francisco River Basin is presented. A total of 45 catfish from the upper São Francisco River (45°15′44″W 18°13′25″S), were examined from July 2009 to September 2011. Forty-three catfish (95.5%) were infected by at least one parasite species, with 885 parasite specimens being found, distributed across 17 species: Monogenea (Demidospermus uncusvalidus, Pavanelliella pavanellii, and Scleroductus sp.); Eucestoda (plerocercoids of Proteocephalidea); Digenea (metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum compactum, adults of Auriculostoma platense and Kalipharynx sp., and juvenile of Prosthenhystera obesa); Nematoda (larvae of Contracaecum sp., Hysterothylacium sp., Procamallanus pimelodus, Procamallanus sp., and unidentified of Cucullanidae, and adults of Cucullanus caballeroi, Philometra sp., and Procamallanus freitasi); and Acanthocephala (adults of Neoechinorhynchus pimelodi). Procamallanus freitasi and Scleroductus sp. were the taxa with the highest prevalence. Demidospermus uncusvalidus, P. freitasi, and Scleroductus sp. were the dominant species. The host's sex did not influence parasitic indexes; however, the total length of the catfish did appear to have some influence. The parasites, with except for P. obesa, were registered for the first time in P. pohli, as well as the occurrence of Kalipharynx sp. and C. caballeroi among pimelodid hosts from São Francisco River and South America.

A fauna parasitária de mandis, Pimelodus pohli da bacia do rio São Francisco é apresentada. Um total de 45 mandis do alto rio São Francisco (45°15′44″W 18°13′25″S), foram examinados entre julho de 2009 e setembro de 2011. Quarenta e três mandis (95,5%) estavam infectados por pelo menos uma espécie de parasito tendo sido encontrados 885 parasitos de 17 espécies: Monogenea (Demidospermus uncusvalidus, Pavanelliella pavanellii, and Scleroductus sp.); Eucestoda (plerocercóides de Proteocephalidea); Digenea (metacercárias de Austrodiplostomum compactum, adultos de Auriculostoma platense e Kalipharynx sp. e juvenil de Prosthenhystera obesa); Nematoda (larvas de Contracaecum sp., Hysterothylacium sp., Procamallanus pimelodus, Procamallanus sp., larvas não identificadas de Cucullanidae e adultos de Cucullanus caballeroi, Philometra sp. e Procamallanus freitasi); e Acanthocephala (adultos de Neoechinorhynchus pimelodi). Procamallanus freitasi e Scleroductus sp. foram os táxons com prevalência mais elevada. Demidospermus uncusvalidus, P. freitasi e Scleroductus sp. foram as espécies dominantes. O sexo dos hospedeiros não influenciou os índices parasitários, mas houve alguma influência do comprimento total sobre eles. Os parasitos, com exceção de P. obesa, são registrados pela primeira vez em P. pohli, bem como a ocorrência de Kalipharynx sp. e C. caballeroi em hospedeiros pimelodídeos do rio São Francisco e da América do Sul.