First Molecular Identification of a Goussia Parasite from a New World Invasive Blenny.

Abstract

Introduced or invasive fish are susceptible to new parasites but can simultaneously carry infectious parasites from their native range towards new hosts. Screening these parasites is key to address the health of fish populations and spread of diseases. In this study, we sequenced a Coccidia parasite, for the first time from the blenny Omobranchus sewalli, introduced in the northern coast of Brazil with an Indo-Pacific origin. Only one individual was infected, its genetic sequence matched (over 99%) with two lineages of undetermined species, belonging to the genus Goussia, sequenced from three marine fish species (Mulloidichthys flavolineatus, Lutjanus kasmira, and Selar crumenophthalmus) in Hawaii. Phylogenetic analysis suggests considerable differentiation between the Goussia detected and other Goussia spp. sequenced from North Atlantic marine fish, thus we cannot exclude the possibly that this parasite was carried by O. sewalli from its native Indo-Pacific range.