Fish Trypanosomes Research Articles

Trypanosomes and dactylosomes from the blood of fresh-water fish in East Africa

1. Trypanosomes were found in the blood of thirty-five of seventy-two fish of five genera (chiefly Tilapia spp.) from Lakes Victoria and George, Uganda.2. The trypanosomes, which were never numerous in the blood, showed two morphological forms—small (22–44μ. long) and large (45–65μ). No significant differences were observed between the trypanosomes from the different species of fish, and all the trypanosomes seen are provisionally identified as Trypanosoma mukasai Hoare, 1932.3. Crithidia were found in the gut of a glossosiphoniid leech which had been removed from a fish; although suggestive, this cannot be taken as conclusive evidence that leeches of this family are vectors of T. mukasai.4. The taxonomy of the trypanosomes of African fresh-water fish is reviewed, and it is concluded that only the following species should be regarded as valid at present: T. toddi Bouet, 1909, T. mukasai Hoare, 1932, and T. tobeyi Dias, 1952.5. Dactylosoma mariae Hoare, 1930, was found in the blood of thirty-six of the seventy-two fish examined. Merozoites, schizonts and gametocytes of this small unpigmented parasite were observed within erythrocytes. No developmental stages were found in certain viscera of two infected fish.

Studies on the Trypanosomes of New Zealand Fish.

SUMMARY.The following trypanosomes of New Zealand marine fish are described in this account, and their relationships discussed:–Trypanosoma heptatreti Laird, 1948 (host: Heptatretus cirrhatus).Trypanosoma gargantua sp. n. (host: Raja nasuta).Trypanosoma coelorhynchi sp. n. (hosts: Coelorhynchus australis; Physiculus bachus).Trypanosoma caulopsettae sp. n. (hosts: Caulopsetta scapha; Rhombosolea plebeia).Trypanosoma tripterygium sp. n. (hosts: Tripterygium carium; Tripterygium medium).Trypanosoma congiopodi sp. n, (host: Congiopodus leucopaecilus).Trypanosoma parapercis sp. n. (host: Parapercis colias).Heptatretus cirrhatus is the first member of the Agnatha to be recorded as a host for trypanosomes. while Trypanosoma gargantua sp. 11. becomes the largest known representative of its genus. It appears that New Zealand fresh water fish are not parasitized by trypanosomes, probably because of the absence of suitable leech vectors.