Abstract
Flounders are commercially and economically important fish. A total of 120 specimens of flounders (60 Paralichthys isosceles, 30 Paralichthys patagonicus and 30 Xystreurys rasile) were collected off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The fish were measured, necropsied and filleted, and then had their organs investigated for acanthocephalans. Taxonomic identification of the parasites was based on morphological, morphometric and genetic characters. Paralichthys isosceles and P. patagonicus were parasitized by juveniles of Serrasentis sagittifer, Bolbosoma turbinella, Corynosoma australe and C. cetaceum; Xystreurys rasile was parasitized by C. australe. Genetic characterization confirmed the identification of specimens of Bolbosoma turbinella and Corynosoma australe, as demonstrated by phylogenetic analyses using both ITS and cox1 molecular targets. Parasite indices of prevalence, intensity, mean intensity, abundance, mean abundance, and range of infection, as well as infection site, were evaluated for each parasite species. This is the first report of S. sagittifer parasitizing P. isosceles and P. patagonicus, and B. turbinella parasitizing P. patagonicus.
Highlights
Flounders (Pleuronectiformes, Paralichthyidae) are known to be ravenous predators of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans (ARAÚJO & HAIMOVICE, 2000)
Paralichthys isosceles and P. patagonicus were parasitized by juveniles of Serrasentis sagittifer, Bolbosoma turbinella, Corynosoma australe and C. cetaceum; Xystreurys rasile was parasitized by C. australe
As only juvenile specimens of S. sagittifer were found in the present study, the flounders are acting as paratenic hosts
Summary
Flounders (Pleuronectiformes, Paralichthyidae) are known to be ravenous predators of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans (ARAÚJO & HAIMOVICE, 2000). Species of the genera Paralichthys and Xystreurys (Paralichthyidae) occurring along the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have great commercial importance in both domestic and foreign markets (BERNARDES et al, 2005). These fish are considered to be among the so-called “fine fish” because of the high quality of their meat and their high market value (FIGUEIREDO & MENEZES, 2000; MASSA et al, 2005). The life-cycles of acanthocephalans involve a fish definitive host and an arthropode intermediary such as amphipod, ostracod or copepod. A few cycles incorporate paratenic or transport hosts (WILLIAMS & JONES, 1994)
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