Abstract
The present study provides the first investigation on the ecological aspects of the parasites M. lippincottianusfrom the Amazonian basin, as well as the parasite-host relationship. 76 out of the examined fish (98.7%) were parasitized by at least one species of parasites. A total of 8,774 parasites were collected, being Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Anacanthorus jegui, Dadayius pacupeva, Digenea gen. sp. (metacercariae), Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp., Spinoxyuris oxydoras, Contracaecum sp. larvae, Dolops longicauda and Hirudinea gen. sp. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis was the dominant species, followed by A. jegui. Among the endoparasites, S. oxydoras and D. pacupeva were predominant. The mean diversity of parasites was HB = 0.96 ± 0.32 and there was aggregate distribution pattern. A positive correlation of body weight with the abundance of I. multifiliis and S. Oxydoras was observed, whereas a negative correlation of body weight with abundance of the Contracaecum sp. larvae was found. The relative condition factor (Kn) was not negatively affected by parasites, and a positive correlation between Kn and abundance of I. multifiliis, S. oxydoras and D. pacupeva was found. This study is the first one to record I. multifiliis, D. longicauda and A. jegui parasitizing M. lippincottianus, as well as the first record of D. pacupeva and S. oxydoras in the Amazonas river system.
Highlights
Parasites are recognized as important components of ecosystems specially when considering the dynamics of food web (MORLEY, 2012)
It is native to South America and found in French Guyana and Brazil distributed through the Amazon Basin, rivers of French Guyana (JÉGU, 2003), Paraná river (FROESE; PAULY, 2013; MOREIRA et al, 2009; YAMADA et al, 2012) and Tocantins river (SANTOS et al, 2004)
Parasites were identified as Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet, 1876 (Ciliophora); Anacanthorus jegui Van Every and Kritsky, 1992 (Dactylogyridae); Dadayius pacupeva Lacerda et al 2003 (Cladorchiidae), encapsulated metacercariae of Digenea gen. sp.; Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus Travassos et al 1928, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. (Camallanidae); Spinoxyuris oxydoras Petter, 1994 (Pharyngodonidae); Contracaecum Railliet & Henry, 1912 (Anisakidae), Dolops longicauda Heller, 1857 (Argulidae) and Glossiphoniidae gen. sp. (Hirudinea)
Summary
Parasites are recognized as important components of ecosystems specially when considering the dynamics of food web (MORLEY, 2012). M. lippincottianus is primarily herbivore, feeding on vegetable sources, seeds and phytoplanktonic algae, but occasionally consumes arthropods and debris (FROESE; PAULY, 2013; SANTOS et al, 2004), occupying the second trophic level of the food chain. This pelagic fish inhabits along the shores of rivers and lakes (FROESE; PAULY, 2013; MOREIRA et al, 2010; SANTOS et al, 2004) and measures at a maximum of 20 cm in length becoming sexually mature when it reaches 10
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