Some ascaridoid nematodes of fishes: Heterocheilinae

Ascaridoid nematode species reported from fishes and relegated to genera listed by Sprent (1983) within the Heterocheilinae are reviewed. The following species are considered to belong in this category: Dujardinascaris malapteruri (Baylis, 1923) [= D. graberi] from Malapterurus electricus, and possibly Mormyrops engystoma, in Africa; Brevimulticaecum regoi n. sp. from Potamotrygon motoro in South America; Brevimulticaecum heterotis (Petter, Vassiliadès & Marchand, 1979) from Heterotis niloticus in Africa; Brevimulticaecum scleropagi Khalil, 1984 from Scleropages leichardti and S. jardini in Papua New Guinea and Australia. The view is expressed that these heterocheiline species are secondarily derived from related species in crocodilians. It is proposed that Gedoelstascaris Sprent, 1978 is a synonym of Brevimulticaecum Mosgovoy, in Skrjabin et al., 1952 and two new combinations are proposed: Brevimulticaecum vandenbrandeni (Baylis, 1929) and Brevimulticaecum australiensis (Baylis, 1931).     

Intestinal helminths of some Nile fishes near Cairo, Egypt with redescriptions of Camallanus kirandensis Baylis 1928 (Nematoda) and Bothriocephalus aegyptiacus Rysavy and Moravec 1975 (Cestoda)

Of 10 species of Nile fishes collected during the summer of 1975 at Giza near Cairo, Egypt, 7 harbored 7 helminth species. Recovered material includes 3 species of nematodes: Camallanus kirandensis Baylis 1928 (new host and geographical record), Cucullanus barbi Baylis 1923, and Rhabdochona congolensis Campana-Rouget 1961 (new host record); three species of cestodes: Khawia sp. (new in Africa), Polyonchobothrium clarias (Woodland 1925) Meggitt 1930, and Bothriocephalus aegyptiacus Rysavy and Moravec 1975; and one acanthocephalan species, Acanthosentis tilapiae Baylis 1947 (new geographical record). Morphologic observations of each species are reported. C. kirandensis and B. aegyptiacus are redescribed.     

Proteocephalus ambloplitis and Contracaecum sp. from largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) stocked into Boundary Reservoir, Saskatchewan

Nonresident (introduced) largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from Boundary Reservoir, Saskatchewan were examined for helminths. Four species of parasites were found (Diplostomum sp., Proteocephalus ambloplitis, Pomphorhynchus bulbocolli, and Contracaecum sp.). Contracaecum sp. larvae were absent in age-0 and age-1 bass, but prevalence and mean intensity increased with age for bass age-2 or older. Similarly, the prevalence and mean intensity of P. ambloplitis plerocercoids in bass were low until age-2; older bass harbored significantly more plerocercoids. Analysis of stomach contents indicates that this pattern of recruitment for Contracaecum sp. and P. ambloplitis is probably due to increased feeding by largemouth bass on aquatic insects and cannibalism after age-2, respectively. Although Contracaecum sp. may have been established in the reservoir prior to the introduction of bass, we are certain that P. ambloplitis was introduced via stocking with infected fingerlings.     

A revision of the nematode genus Odontoterakis Skrjabin & Schikhobalova, 1947 (Heterakoidea)

Odontoterakis Skrjabin &; Schikhobalova, 1947 contains five species from South American and Australian birds: O. crypturi (Baylis, 1944), type-species; O. alata (Schneider, 1866) n. comb.; O. fariai (Travassos, 1913); O. valvata (Schneider, 1866); O. bancrofti (Johnston, 1912); all with slightly curved cordons, cheilorhabdions within mass of lips, and in most species a pair of elongate papillae between para-suctorials and peri-cloacals. Haroldakis n. g. from South American birds, contains Heterakis multidentata Baylis, 1944 as type- and sole species, with non-curved cordons, cheilorhabdions projecting beyond mass of lips, a pair of sessile papillae on raised area between para-suctorials and peri-cloacals, and a median doubled structure on a raised posterior cloacal lip. Synonyms recognised are: Heterakis arquata Schneider, 1866 = O. alata; H. arquata of Travassos (1913) nec Schneider, 1866 = (?) O. crypturi; H. brasiliana von Linstow, 1899 = species dubia; H. brasiliana of Travassos (1918) nec von Linstow = (?) O. alata; H. skrjabini Cram, 1927 = O. alata; Pseudostrongyluris Guerrero, 1971 = Strongyluris A. Müller, 1894; Strongyluris spiculatus Cobbold, 1861 = species dubia.     

Macroparasites of five species of ray (genus Raja) on the northwest coast of Spain

A parasitological study of rays captured on the Atlantic continental shelf off the estuary Muros-Noia in NW Spain (42 degrees 35' to 42 degrees 41' N, 9 degrees 2' to 9 degrees 10' W; mean capture depth 11.6 +/- 4.1 m) was performed. A total of 128 rays were examined: 52 specimens of Raja microocellata, 60 of R. brachyura, 6 of R. montagui, 3 of R. undulata and 7 of an unidentified Raja species, known locally as 'fancheca'. A total of 23 macroparasite species were detected: 5 monogeneans (Acanthocotyle sp., Calicotyle kroyeri, Empruthotrema raiae, Merizocotyle undulata, Rajonchocotyle emarginata), 11 cestodes (Acanthobothrium sp., Crossobothrium sp., Echeneibothrium sp., Echinobothrium brachysoma, Grillotia erinaceus, Grillotia sp., Lecanicephalum sp., Nybelinia lingualis, Onchobothrium uncinatum, Phyllobothrium lactuca, Tritaphros retzii), 6 nematodes (Anisakis simplex, Hysterothylacium sp., Histodytes microocellatus, Piscicapillaria freemani, Proleptus sp., Pseudanisakis baylisi) and a copepod (Holobomolochus sp.). All parasite species were present in several ray species, except for Acanthocotyle sp. and G. erinaceus (detected only in R. brachyura), H. microocellatus (detected only in R. microocellata) and T. retzii (detected only in R. montagui). Three species (C. kroyeri, M. undulata, E. brachysoma) have not been reported previously from Spain. The host with the highest parasite species richness was R. brachyura (18 species), followed by R. microocellata (17) and the unidentified Raja species (14). The parasite with the highest prevalence in R. microocellata was M. undulata, followed by R. emarginata, Acanthobothrium sp. and Echeneibothrium sp. The species with the highest prevalence in R. brachyura was R. emarginata, followed by C. kroyeri and P. baylisi. Some differences in parasite prevalence were detected between sexes and among size classes in both R. brachyura and R. microocellata.     

Parasites of Columba livia (Aves: Columbiformes) in Tenerife (Canary Islands) and their role in the conservation biology of the laurel pigeons

The prevalence and intensity of the parasites from 50 wild doves (Columba livia) from the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the island of Tenerife (Canary Archipelago), were studied. The following ectoparasites were found in apparently healthy pigeons (prevalences are shown in percentage (%) and mean intensities with their standard deviations): the acari Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) (6, 241.0 +/- 138.9) and Tinaminyssus melloi Fain, 1962 (10%, 218.3 +/- 117.3); the louses, Columbicola columbae Linnaeus, 1758 (100%, 111.4 +/- 76.8) and Campanulotes bidentatus Scopoli, 1763 (94%, 48.4 +/- 26.6); and the pigeon fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis Macquart, 1839 (36%, 6.2 +/- 1.6). The endoparasites we found were: a haemoprotozoan species, Haemoproteus columbae Kruze, 1890 (82%, 14.8 +/- 10.3 per 1000); coccidian oocysts, Eimeria sp. (50%, 0.2 x 10(3) +/- 1.7 x 10(3) per gr); a cestode species Raillietina micracantha (Fuhrmann, 1909) López Neyra, 1947 (44%, 12.3 +/- 9.4); and four nematode species, Tetrameres (Tetrameres) fissispina (Diesing, 1861) Travassos, 1915 (4%, 99.5 +/- 34.1), Synhimantus (Dispharynx) spiralis (Molin, 1858) (8%, 46.8 +/- 11.6), Ascaridia columbae (Gmelin, 1790) Travassos, 1913 (40%, 8.4 +/- 8.8) and Aonchotheca sp. (18%, 6.0 +/- 3.1). Several species detected in our study can be pathogens for C. bollii and C. junoniae, which are endemic pigeons of the Canary Islands, considered endangered species. Parasites (ectoparasites, protozoa and helminths) of C. livia found in Tenerife and others from wild and farm birds in the island were considered as healthy controls.     

Infections by helminth parasites in "puyenes", Galaxias maculatus (Galaxiidae, Salmoniformes), from Southern Argentina with special reference to Tylodelphys barilochensis (Digenea, Platyhelminthes).

The occurrence of Tylodelphys barilochensis, Acanthostomoides apophalliformis, Contracaecum sp. and Camallanus corderoi infecting Galaxias maculatus ("puyenes") was quantified for the first time in Lake Nahuel Huapi, southern Argentina. T. barilochensis was recorded in this lake for the first time. The role of G. maculatus population in transmission of parasites to the salmonids is more important for Contracaecum sp. (prevalence 14-34%) and A. apophalliformis (prevalence 30-54%) than for C. corderoi (prevalence 6-8%). The absence of Diphyllobothrium spp. in samples shows that the G. maculatus population does not play any role in the life cycles of these important zoonotic parasites. The sex of the host had no effect on T. barilochensis abundance. Statistical differences in T. barilochensis abundance between "puyenes" of the same size class between sampling stations and positive correlation between prevalence of infected snails and T. barilochensis abundance in fish suggest that different stocks have been sampled. Factors influencing T. barilochensis abundance are discussed.     

Helminths of pond-reared walleye from Wisconsin

One hundred extended growth walleye fingerlings, Sander vitreus (Percidae), collected on 6 October 2004, from 1 rearing pond at the Lake Mills State Fish Hatchery in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, were examined for parasites. Diplostomum sp. (Trematoda: Diplostomatidae), Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae), Bothriocephalus cuspidatus (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidae), and Proteocephalus sp. (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) were the only parasites found. The first 3 species occurred as larval stages. Diplostomum sp. and Contracaecum sp. had similar prevalences, mean intensities, and mean abundances (72%, 2.2, and 1.6 and 71%, 2.1, 1.5, respectively) in walleye fingerlings. A headlamp technique used by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources personnel generated a prevalence of Diplostomum sp. in the lens that overestimated the prevalence of Diplostomum sp. found in a random subsample of 100 fingerlings examined with a microscope. Proteocephalus sp. and B. cuspidatus infected 14 and 12 fingerlings, respectively.     

Occurrence of parasites of the freshwater mugilid fish Liza abu (Heckel) from Basrah, southern Iraq

In monthly samples of Liza abu collected November 1981–October 1982 from Mehaijeran Creek, a western branch of Shatt–Al–Arab river south of Basrah, fishes were infected with the third larval stage of the nematode Contracaecum sp., the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus agilis and the gill crustacean Ergasilus mosulensis.
Generally, the changes in the percentage prevalence coincided with the changes in the mean intensity of infection. There were no significant differences between the infection of male and female fishes in the cases of the monthly variations of infection with Contracaecum sp. and of infection with both Contracaecum sp. and E. mosulensis , according to fish length, but in other cases more female fishes were infected than males.
Infection with Contracaecum sp. decreased gradually in the larger fishes. In the case of both N. agilis and E. mosulensis , the infection at first increased with increase in fish length but decreased in larger fishes.
Infection with Contracaecum sp. occurred only during May–August and disappeared during September. The peak for N. agilis was in April, and it disappeared during summer. Infection with E. mosulensis disappeared during winter months.     

Parasitism in fishes and human riverside communities of the Huillinco and Natri lakes (Great Island of Chiloé), Chile

In April and December 1989, 35 fish from Lake Huillinco (42 degrees 48'S, 74 degrees 02'W) and 36 fish from Lake Natri (42 degrees 48'S, 73 degrees 50'W), in the Great Island of Chiloé (Chile) were examined. Coprological samples from 159 persons, 17 dogs, 19 pigs and 4 cats from around both lakes were examined for Diphyllobothrium spp. infection. In the Lake Huillinco the following helminths of fishes were determined: Contracaecum sp. and Hysterothylacium sp. in Salmo trutta, Cauque mauleanum and Eleginops maclovinus; Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) dichelyneformis in S. trutta and E. maclovinus and Scolex pleuronectis in S. trutta. One specimen of Mugil cephalus did not show helminth parasites. Prevalence of infection were greater for Contracaecum sp. in S. trutta (75.0%) and C. mauleanum (76.0%); and Hysterothylacium sp. in E. maclovinus (75.0%). Mean intensity was higher for D. (C.) dichelyneformis in E. maclovinus. Contracaecum sp. in S. trutta, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Oncorhynchus kisutch and Galaxias maculatus; Acanthocephalus sp. in S. trutta and G. maculatus, S. pleuronectis in O. mykiss and Cystidicoloides sp. in G. maculatus were determined at Lake Natri. Prevalence and intensity of infection were higher for Contracaecum sp. in S. trutta and O. kisutch. Infection by Diphyllobothrium sp. was determined in one domestic cat. Prevalence of infection by intestinal protozoan and helminths in human population only showed significative differences for Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura that were higher in the Lake Huillinco. Importance of natural infection by helminth parasites for fish in cultured condition and possible mechanisms of infections in relation to the diet of fishes are discussed.     

Ecological aspects of nematode parasites of introduced salmonids from Valdivia river basin, Chile.

Between 1986 and 1987, 666 fishes distributed among the following species introduced in Chile, and from different sectors of the Valdivia river basin (39 degrees 30'-40 degrees 00'S, 73 degrees 30'-71 degrees 45'W), were examined: 348 Salmo trutta, 242 Salmo gairdneri, 24 Cyprinus carpio and 52 Gambusia affinis holbrooki. The presence of Camallanus corderoi and Contracaecum sp. in S. gairdneri and of C. corderoi in S. trutta is recorded in Chile for the first time. Cyprinus carpio and G. a. holbrooki did not present infections by nematodes. The prevalence and mean intensity of the infections by nematodes presented significant differences among some sectors of the Valdivia river basin. In general, the prevalence and intensity of the infections by C. corderoi were greater than those by Contracaecum sp. The infections in S. gairdneri were higher than in S. trutta. The sex of the hosts had no influence on the prevalence and intensity of the infections by both nematodes. The length of the hosts did have an influence, except in the case of the infections by Contracaecum sp. in S. gairdneri. The infrapopulations of both nematode species showed over-dispersion in most cases. The diet of the examined salmonids suggests that they would become infected principally through the consumption of autochthonous fishes.     

Dujardinascaris spp. (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in Old World crocodilians

Five new species of the genus Dujardinascaris Baylis, 1947 are described from Old World crocodilians: D. petterae n. sp. in Osteolaemus tetraspis from the Congo, Central Africa; D. blairi n. sp in Crocodylus johnstoni from Northern Australia; D. harrisae n. sp., D. angusae n. sp., and D. westonae n. sp. in C. porosus from Papua New Guinea. The species are differentiated by the relative length of the spicules, the shape of the gubernaculum and the form of the male tail. Females of the species cannot be readily distinguished morphologically.     

西藏羊卓雍错高原裸鲤肠道寄生蠕虫的群落生态

为研究西藏羊卓雍错Yamdrok Lake高原裸鲤肠道寄生蠕虫的群落生态,探索寄生虫与西藏高原环境和独特的鱼类宿主三者之间的相互关系,以肠道寄生蠕虫为对象,于2020年7月对180尾高原裸鲤Gymnocypris waddellii [雌性120尾,雄性60尾,全长22.20—49.20 cm,平均全长(36.76±4.18) cm,体重77.3—896.7 g,平均体重(425.92±148.27) g]进行了剖检,对群落结构和种间关系等群落生态进行了分析。羊卓雍错高原裸鲤肠道寄生蠕虫群落由5个物种构成,分别为聂氏似短节绦虫Parabreviscolex niepini、对盲囊线虫Contracaecum eudyptulae、束首线虫未定种Streptocara sp.、新棘吻虫未定种Neoechinorhynchus sp.和异肉吸虫未定种Allocreadium sp.。感染率从高到低依次为新棘吻虫未定种、聂氏似短节绦虫、异肉吸虫未定种、对盲囊线虫和束首线虫未定种。平均丰度从高到低依次为聂氏似短节绦虫、新棘吻虫未定种、束首线虫未定种、异肉吸虫未定种和对盲囊线虫。群落的Marga...     

Levels of infection of gastric nematodes in a flock of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) from Lake Biwa, Japan

A high prevalence (86.7%) of various species of nematodes was observed in the stomach of great cormorants living in Lake Biwa, Japan. There were varying numbers of adults belonging to two common genera, Eustrongylides Jagerskiold 1909 (Nematoda: Dioctophymatidae) and Contracaecum Railliet & Henry 1912 (Nematoda: Anisakidae). The first included common adenophorean nematodes comprising a single species, Eustrongylides tubifex and the second comprised ascaroid nematodes that contained four named species: Contracaecum rudolphii Hartwich, 1964, Contracaecum microcephalum Yamaguti, 1961, Contracaecum multipapillatum Drasche, 1882 and Contracaecum chubutensis Garbin, 2008. After the prevalence and intensity of the infection had been noted, both types of nematodes were frequently observed to penetrate the mucosa and intrude into the wall of the glandular stomach, where they caused gross haemorrhage and ulceration. The Eustrongylides sp. was predominantly found in a nodular lesion of the proventricular wall, while Contracaecum spp. were observed either free in the lumen of the proventriculus or, on occasion, deeply penetrating its wall. Of the Contracaecum spp., C. rudolphii was the most prevalent. Grossly, large numbers of nematodes were present in infected stomachs (for C. rudolphii intensity was 1-34 and 3-57 nematodes in male birds and 1-21 and 1-32 in females; for C. microcephalum 1-2 and 1 in male birds and 1-2 in females; for C. multipapillatum 2 in male cormorants and no infection in females; for C. chubutensis 1-2 and 1 in male birds and 1-5 and 1 in females and for E. tubifex 1-5 nematodes in male birds and 2-8 in females). Ulcerative inflammation and hyperaemia were the most common pathological presentations, especially in areas that had been invaded by parasites. Microscopically, varying degrees of granulomatous inflammatory reactions were seen, in addition to degenerated nematodes which appeared to have deeply penetrated mucosal surfaces and were surrounded by fibrous connective tissues.     

A comparative study of helminth parasites from the fish Tilapia zillii and Oreochromis leucostictus in Lake Naivasha and Oloidien Bay,Kenya

The parasitic fauna of two fish species, namely gill-netted samples of 652 Oreochromis leucostictus and 448 Tilapia zillii from Lake Naivasha and Oloidien Bay was investigated during the period from the end of October 1995 to September 1996. Five larval helminth parasites were recovered including the nematode, Contracaecum sp., the acanthocephalan Polyacanthorhynchus kenyensis, the digenetic trematode, Clinostomum sp. and two cestodes, Amirthalingamia sp. and Cyclustera sp. Both prevalence and intensity of the infection of these helminths increased in larger sized fish, whereas male fish were more heavily infected than females. No seasonality in infection level were observed. The health status of both fish species remained unaffected, although O. leucostictus from Oloidien Bay which harboured heavy infections of Contracaecum exhibited stuntedness and the lack of fatty deposits around the digestive caecum.     

Redescription of Tejidotaenia appendiculata (Baylis, 1947) (Cestoda: proteocephalidea), a parasite of Tupinambis teguixin (Sauria: teiidae) from South America

The species Tejidotaenia appendiculata (Baylis, 1947), a parasite found in teju, Tupinambis teguixin is redescribed and a new diagnosis is provided. The species is characterized by the anterior position of the ovary and the peculiar shape of suckers. It is the first record of this species in Brazil.     

Helminth parasites of the tropical gar, Atractosteus tropicus Gill, from Tabasco, Mexico

A total of 8 helminth species were recorded in an examination of 43 tropical gar, Atractosteus tropicus Gill, collected at the Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve, Tabasco, Mexico. The parasite species included 1 adult trematode, 3 metacercariae, 1 cestode, 1 adult nematode, and 2 nematode larvae. Six of these 8 species were rare, with low prevalence (< 17%) and abundance (< 1.0 helminths per examined fish). The larvae of Contracaecum sp. were the most abundant in the sample, constituting 60% of the total helminths (64% prevalence, 3.8 +/- 5.2 abundance), followed by the cestode Proteocephalus singularis, constituting 18% of the worms (30.5% prevalence, 1.1 +/- 3.0 abundance). Species richness, individual parasite abundance, and diversity were low in the infracommunities. The recording of 3 specialist species in the tropical gar confirms that the helminth fauna of gar has an appreciable degree of specificity. This study indicates the importance of ecological determinants of richness in helminth communities of the tropical gar.     

Helminths parasitizing larval fish from Pantanal, Brazil

Fish larvae of 'corvinas' (Pachyurus bonariensis and Plagioscion ternetzi) from Sinhá Mariana Lagoon, Mato Grosso State, were collected from March 2000 to March 2004, in order to determine the parasitic fauna of fishes. Larvae from the two species were parasitized by the same endoparasites: Contracaecum sp. Type 2 (larvae) (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in the mesentery and Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) paraguayensis (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) in the stomach and the terminal portion of the intestine. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the standard length of hosts and the abundance of acanthocephalans and nematodes, and that the prevalence of nematodes presented a significant positive correlation with the standard length of the two species of hosts, indicating the presence of a cumulative process of infection. The present study constitutes the first record of nematodes and acanthocephalans parasitizing larval fish, as well as the first record of endoparasites in fish larvae in Brazil. In addition, it lists a new locality and two species of hosts for Contracaecum sp. Type 2 (larva) and N. (N.) paraguayensis.     

The helminth community of the skink Chalcides sexlineatus from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

A survey of the gastrointestinal helminth communities of a population of Chalcides sexlineatus Steindachner, a small skink endemic to Gran Canaria island (Canary Archipelago, Spain), was conducted to determine the prevalence, abundance and species diversity of intestinal parasites in these reptiles. Only three parasite species were found, one cestode, Oochoristica agamae Baylis, 1919 and two nematodes, Parapharyngodon micipsae (Seurat, 1917) and Pharyngodonidae gen. sp. Helminth infracommunities of C. sexlineatus showed low values of abundance and species richness and diversity, being more similar to the helminth community of Tarentola boettgeri boettgeri (Steindachner) rather than those of Gallotia stehlini (Schenkel), both syntopic with the sampled host.