Diversity of monogenean parasites on gills of fishes from the Matapi River, in the Brazilian Amazon.

Abstract

This study investigated the fauna of monogeneans on gills of 13 fish species from the Matapi River, Brazilian Amazon. A total 548 fish belonging to 13 species (1 Anostomidae, 3 Characidae, 1 Curimatidae, 1 Hemiodontidae, 2 Serrasalmidae, 3 Scianidae, 1 Ageneiosidae and 1 Tetradontidae) were examined. From these fish, 6 species were infected and with a total prevalence of 22.4%. Monogeneans collected are represented by the following taxa: Anacanthorus gravihamulatus, Notozothecium minor, Notozothecium penetrarum, Diplectanum piscinarius, Aetheolabes goeldiensis, Euryhaliotrema succedanus, Anacanthorus jegui, Urocleidoides astyanacis, Urocleidoides strombicirrus, Euryhaliotrema sp. and Urocleidoides spp. There was a variation in the prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of monogeneans among the host populations examined. Monogeneans of Metynnis lippincottianus, Plagioscion squamosissimus, Astyanax bimaculatus and Curimata incompta presented a highly aggregated dispersion pattern. Body weight of M. lippincottianus and C. incompta presented a weak positive correlation with abundance of parasites. Lastly, this is first study for 12 fish species from the Matapi River and the first report of E. succedanus for Plagioscion surinamensis and N. penetrarum for Serrasalmus rhombeus.