Gill Parasites Research Articles

Microhabitat distributions and species interactions of ectoparasites on the gills of cichlid fish in Lake Victoria, Tanzania

Heterogeneous exposure to parasites may contribute to host species differentiation. Hosts often harbour multiple parasite species which may interact and thus modify each other’s effects on host fitness. Antagonistic or synergistic interactions between parasites may be detectable as niche segregation within hosts. Consequently, the within-host distribution of different parasite taxa may constitute an important axis of infection variation among host populations and species. We investigated the microhabitat distributions and species interactions of gill parasites (four genera) infecting 14 sympatric cichlid species in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. We found that the two most abundant ectoparasite genera (the monogenean Cichlidogyrus spp. and the copepod Lamproglena monodi) were non-randomly distributed across the host gills and their spatial distribution differed between host species. This may indicate microhabitat selection by the parasites and cryptic differences in the host–parasite interaction among host species. Relationships among ectoparasite genera were synergistic: the abundances of Cichlidogyrus spp. and the copepods L. monodi and Ergasilus lamellifer tended to be positively correlated. In contrast, relationships among morphospecies of Cichlidogyrus were antagonistic: the abundances of morphospecies were negatively correlated. Together with niche overlap, this suggests competition among morphospecies of Cichlidogyrus. We also assessed the reproductive activity of the copepod species (the proportion of individuals carrying egg clutches), as it may be affected by the presence of other parasites and provide another indicator of the species specificity of the host–parasite relationship. Copepod reproductive activity did not differ between host species and was not associated with the presence or abundance of other parasites, suggesting that these are generalist parasites, thriving in all cichlid species examined from Lake Victoria.

The cichlid–Cichlidogyrus network: a blueprint for a model system of parasite evolution

Species interactions are a key aspect of evolutionary biology. Parasites, specifically, are drivers of the evolution of species communities and impact biosecurity and public health. However, when using interaction networks for evolutionary studies, interdependencies between distantly related species in these networks are shaped by ancient and complex processes. We propose using recent interacting host–parasite radiations, e.g. African cichlid fishes and cichlid gill parasites belonging to Cichlidogyrus (Dactylogyridae, Monogenea), as macroevolutionary model of species interactions. The cichlid–Cichlidogyrus network encompasses 138 parasite species and 416 interactions identified through morphological characteristics and genetic markers in 160 publications. We discuss the steps required to develop this model system based on data resolution, sampling bias, and reporting quality. In addition, we propose the following steps to guide efforts for a macroevolutionary model system for species interactions: first, evaluating and expanding model system outcome measures to increase data resolution; second, closing knowledge gaps to address underreporting and sampling bias arising from limited human and financial resources. Identifying phylogenetic and geographic targets, creating systematic overviews, enhancing scientific collaborations, and avoiding data loss through awareness of predatory journal publications can accelerate this process; and third, standardising data reporting to increase reporting quality and to facilitate data accessibility.

Disentangling the evolutionary history of peri-Mediterranean cyprinids using host-specific gill monogeneans

The diversification of Mediterranean fish appears to be far more complex than could be explained by a single dispersion model. Cyprinids represent one of the most species-rich groups of freshwater fishes living in this region. The current distribution of several highly divergent cyprinid taxa is most likely the result of multiple dispersion events. Cyprinid fish serve as hosts for the highly diversified and host-specific monogenean parasites of the genus Dactylogyrus. On the assumption that the distribution of Dactylogyrus spp. reflects the biogeography and evolutionary history of their hosts, we used these parasites as an additional tool to shed new light on the evolutionary history of peri-Mediterranean cyprinids of the subfamily Barbinae. The degree of congruence between host and parasite phylogenies was investigated using 29 Dactylogyrus spp. and 34 Barbinae hosts belonging to the genera Aulopyge, Barbus and Luciobarbus. We showed that the morphological adaptation of Dactylogyrus (i.e. of the ventral bar, representing the most variable morphological character of the attachment organ) is linked with parasite phylogeny. By applying distance-based and event-based cophylogenetic approaches, we revealed a significant global coevolutionary signal. A total of 62% of individual host–parasite links contributed significantly to the coevolutionary structure evidenced between hosts of Barbus spp. and Iberian Luciobarbus spp., and their host-specific Dactylogyrus spp. The host switching of parasites was revealed as the most important coevolutionary event in the Dactylogyrus-Barbinae system in the peri-Mediterranean region. Cophylogenetic analyses and the mapping of the morphological character of the parasite attachment organ onto the phylogeny of Dactylogyrus indicate that endemic southern European Dactylogyrus spp. parasitizing cyprinids of Barbinae have multiple origins. We suggest that continental bridges connecting southern Europe and North Africa played a crucial role in the dispersion of cyprinids, affecting the distribution of their host-specific gill parasites.

Investigation of complete life cycle and species identification of a digenean gill parasite <i>Centrocestus</i> sp. infesting Koi carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio</i> Linnaeus, 1758) using morphology and morphometric characters

This study was done to describe the morphology and morphometric characters of the life cycle stages of the digenean gill parasite, Centrocestus sp. that infests Koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) at Rambadagalle and Ginigathhena ornamental fish breeding centres of Sri Lanka and to identify the species of the parasite. The snail, Melanoides tuberculata (Muller, 1774) that inhabited the earthen ponds with Koi carps were induced to shed cercariae and 45 days old Koi carps were experimentally infested by them. The infected fish with mature metacercariae were fed to chicks (Gallus gallus) and eggs of the parasite released with faeces and adult stages of the parasite developed in the intestine were recovered. After keeping the eggs in water for several days ciliated miracidia were observed by application of tactile pressure. Infested snails were dissected and the morphometric characters of sporocyst and redia stages were recorded. The eggs were operculated, oval shaped, yellowish brown in colour with lattice design on the shell surface. The ciliated miracidi, was the infective stage to snails. The sporocyst was sac like and the redia was tubular and curved. The cercaria had an oral and a ventral sucker, two eye spots and a tail. The encysted metacercaria was oval in shape with ‘X-shaped excretory bladder’. Excysted metacercaria was elongated and narrower at the anterior end being similar to adults. The adult worm was small and oral sucker was surrounded by 32 circumoral spines arranged in two alternated rows. Acetabulum located in the middle of the body. The excretory bladder opened to a terminal excretory pore. The morphology and morphometric characters of the life cycle stages of the Centrocestus sp. that infests Koi carp at Rambadagalle and Ginigathhena ornamental fish breeding centres were compared with published literature and the parasite was identified as Centrocestus formosanus (Nishigori, 1924), which has not been documented in Sri Lanka earlier.

Historical museum collections help detect parasite species jumps after tilapia introductions in the Congo Basin

This study highlights the value of museum collections in invasion biology. It focuses on introduced tilapias, Oreochromis niloticus and Coptodon rendalli in the Congo Basin and their monogenean (Platyhelminthes) gill parasite fauna. O. niloticus was introduced throughout the Congo Basin while C. rendalli was introduced into the Lower Congo, but is native to the Middle and Upper Congo. In order to study the impact of these stocking events on the native parasite community we investigate the co-introduction and host switching of their parasites. Post-introduction material is compared with pre-introduction samples from museum collections of 5 native tilapias in the Congo Basin. Nine of the known parasites of O. niloticus were co-introduced, while one, Cichlidogyrus rognoni, is missing and possibly not established. In contrast, no parasite species were found co-introduced with C. rendalli into the Lower Congo. The parasite fauna of Tilapia sparrmanii shared no species with O. niloticus. Oreochromis mweruensis shared five species with O. niloticus, but these were also found on the pre-introduction samples, and are considered native to both hosts. We report three putative host switches: Cichlidogyrus sclerosus and Cichlidogyrus tilapiae to Coptodon tholloni in the Lower Congo Basin and Gyrodactylus nyanzae to C. rendalli in the Upper Congo.

D-mannose-specific Immunoglobulin M in Grass Puffer (Takifugu niphobles), a Nonhost Fish of a Monogenean Ectoparasite Heterobothrium okamotoi, Can Act as a Trigger for its Parasitism.

Heterobothrium okamotoi, a monogenean gill parasite, exhibits high host specificity for the tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes, and it has been experimentally verified that the parasite cannot colonize either closely related species such as the grass puffer Takifugu niphobles or distantly related fish such as the red seabream Pagrus major. Previously, we demonstrated in T. rubripes that immunoglobulin M (IgM) with d-mannose affinity induced deciliation of the oncomiracidia, the first step of parasitism, indicating that the parasite utilizes the molecule as a receptor for infection. In the present study, we purified mannose-specific IgM from 2 nonhost species, T. niphobles and P. major, by affinity and gel-filtration chromatography techniques and compared their deciliation-inducing activity against H. okamotoi oncomiracidia. The IgM of the former showed activity, whereas the latter had no effect, suggesting that in addition to d-mannose-binding ability, the crystallizable fragment domain of IgM, which is not part of the antigen-binding domain, plays an important role in host recognition by the oncomiracidia, such as direct binding to the parasites. It also suggests that the host specificity of H. okamotoi is relatively low upon initial recognition, and the specificity is established by exclusion in nonhosts during a later stage.

A new genus and three new species of dactylogyrids (Monogenea), gill parasites of the threadfin bass, Pronotogrammus multifasciatus Gill (Perciformes: Serranidae) in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean off Peru.

Pronotogrammella n. g. is erected to accommodate Pronotogrammella boegeri n. sp. (type-species), Pr. scholzi n. sp. and Pr. multifasciatus n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae). The new species are gill parasites of the threadfin bass Pronotogrammus multifasciatus Gill (Perciformes: Serranidae), a demersal teleost collected from off the coastal zone of Puerto Pizarro, Tumbes, Peru. Pronotogrammella n. g. is mainly characterised by having broadly fork-shaped dorsal anchors, which have an accessory anchor sclerite articulated to the tip of the superficial roots. Pronotogrammella n. g. is also characterised by having: (i) a tubular tapered-shaped male copulatory organ (MCO), filamentous distally, with a clockwise coil at distal end or not, lacking accessory piece; (ii) a dorsal bar with an anteromedial delicate umbelliform membrane supported by two processes; (iii) hooks with upright blunt thumb and uniform shank; (iv) a vaginal aperture dextrolateral; (v) a subquadrangular haptor, with inconspicuous lateral flaps and lacking haptoral reservoirs; and (vi) eye-spot or chromatic granules absent. Pronotogrammella boegeri n. sp. is characterised by its crosier-shaped MCO having a clockwise coil at distal end and by its dorsal bar with a straight anteromedial processes. Pronotogrammella scholzi n. sp. is typified by possessing of a dorsal bar with the anteromedial processes like cow horns, hoof-shaped deep roots of the dorsal anchors and a broader shaft of the MCO. Pronotogrammella multifasciatus n. sp. differs from all congeners by having a tubular MCO with twisted shaft and a base with a short and broad arm and by having an almost dumbbell-shaped ventral bar.

Prevalence study of gill parasites of sillaginid fish from the upper Gulf of Thailand and new host records

Prevalence study of gill parasites of sillaginid fish from the upper Gulf of Thailand and new host records

EFFECT OF ABIOTIC FACTORS ON COPEPOD PARASITES FROM BENI-HAROUN DAM (MILA CITY) NORTH- EAST OF ALGERIA.

Copepod parasites are among the highly ubiquitous and abundant organisms in the planet, although they cause marked ecological and economic damages in the world, including Algeria. This work was theref ore, aimed to study the copepod parasites in gills of 776 individual freshwater fishes belonging to four caught fishes (Luciobarbus callensis, Carassuis carassuis, Cyprinus carpio and Abramis brama) from Beni-Haroun dam of Mila city (northeast of Algeria) during four seasons over two years (2015 & 2016). Here, the parasites have been collected and identified, the epidemiological indices were determined and the effect of water physico-chemical parameters on parasites was examined using principal component correlation analysis (Statistica, Ver 8). Moreover, the morpho-anatomical criteria of 249 collected parasites promoted us to identify eight species (Ergasilus sieboldi, Ergasilus peregrinus, Ergasilus briani, Neoergasilus japonicus, Ergasilus megaceros, Neoergasilus longispinosus, Paraergasilus brevigiditus and Lernea cyprinacea) related to four genera and two families. Thus, the study appears that the effect of physico-chemical parameters on parasitic infestation and number of parasites is positively correlated with temperature, dissolved oxygen, orthophosphate, nitrite and ammonium contents, and negatively correlated with pH and nitrates during summer and autumn.

Efficacy of single and multiple doses of fenbendazole against gill parasites ( Dactylogyrus sp.) of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) and its physio‐metabolic effects on the fish

The study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and physio-metabolic responses of single and multiple doses of fenbendazole (FBZ) in Labeo rohita against gill parasite (Dacylogyrus sp.). Two Isoenergetic (395 Kcal DE/100 g) and isonitrogenous (35% CP) purified diets viz. control (without FBZ) and treatment (0.2% FBZ) were prepared. The efficacy of FBZ was measured after administration of single dose (20 mg/kg b. wt.) on 0th day and multiple doses of FBZ, that is, 20 mg/kg b. wt. on 0th, 3rd and 7th day through diet. Although oral administration of FBZ at single dose could significantly reduce the parasite in fish in comparison with the control group, 100% efficacy of the drug was not achieved up to 15th day of treatment. On the other hand, multiple doses of FBZ could show almost 100% efficacy on 15th day in terms of elimination of parasites from gill. The drug induced oxidative stress in examined fish. There was no significant change in activities of hepatic and muscle aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase of L. rohita up to 15th day after oral administration of FBZ at single dose. But both single and multiple doses of FBZ could significantly enhance the hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in fish up to 7th day of drug administration and significantly decreased thereafter up to 15th and/or 30th day. It is concluded that oral administration of FBZ at multiple doses (20 mg/kg b. wt.) on 1st, 3rd and 7th day could be effective against Dactylogyrus sp. infection in L. rohita.

Genetic diversity among geographically distant isolates of Neoparamoeba perurans.

The present study explored the use of 2 common genetic markers, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) to infer the relationship between geographically distant isolates of the protozoan gill parasite Neoparamoeba perurans, the agent responsible for amoebic gill disease in farmed Atlantic salmon worldwide. Present data confirmed that the ITS marker is suitable for Neoparamoeba species discrimination; however, it is not recommended as a population marker due to the presence of multiple copies of ITS within both N. perurans clonal and polycultures. On the other hand, in the partial COI gene analysed here, a low variability was observed, with 8 haplotypes recovered from N. perurans samples collected from Europe (Ireland, Norway, Scotland) and Tasmania (Australia). In Europe, the COI haplotypes which have more recently been detected in aquaculture are different to the haplotypes associated with the original gill disease emergence in Ireland in 1997 and Norway in 2006. The presence of unique COI haplotypes in different continents suggests the presence of multiple distinct reservoirs of the pathogen in both Europe and Tasmania. Isolates from additional geographical locations are required to fully understand the origins and routes for the spread of N. perurans worldwide.

Failure to diverge in African Great Lakes: The case of Dolicirroplectanum lacustre gen. nov. comb. nov. (Monogenea, Diplectanidae) infecting latid hosts

Speciation of fish in the African Great Lakes has been widely studied. Surprisingly, extensive speciation in parasites was only recently discovered in these biodiversity hotspots, notably in monogeneans (Platyhelminthes) from Lake Tanganyika. Diplectanum is a monogenean genus of which only a single species is known from the Great Lakes: Diplectanum lacustre (Diplectanidae) living on lates perches (Latidae) of Lake Albert. Despite their primary marine origin, latids have diversified in African freshwaters including several Great Lakes. In better-studied marine diplectanid species, incongruence between morphological and genetic differentiation was documented. As freshwater systems provide more opportunities for speciation than the marine realm, we ask whether diplectanids of Lates spp. of the Great Lakes underwent similar diversification as their hosts. Fresh and museum specimens of five African latid species (Lates angustifrons, L. mariae, L. microlepis, L. niloticus, L. stappersii) were examined for the presence of monogenean gill parasites. Monogeneans were characterised morphologically via morphometrics of sclerotised structures and genetically using nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Continuous morphological variation was documented in these parasites. In addition, the genetic distance, based on the COI region, between parasites of geographically isolated host species did not reach the level typically associated with distinct diplectanid species. Therefore, a single species of a newly described genus, Dolicirroplectanum lacustre gen. nov. comb. nov. is suggested to infect latid species in the examined basins. We discuss this parasite’s failure to diverge in the light of the congruence between the rate of molecular evolution in COI and host historical distribution.

Henneguya (Cnidaria: Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) infections of cultured barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Perciformes: Latidae) in an estuarine wetlands system of Malaysia: description of Henneguya setiuensis n. sp., Henneguya voronini n. sp. and Henneguya calcarifer n. sp.

Examination of 35 barramundi (Lates calcarifer) from aquaculture cages in Setiu Wetland, Malaysia, revealed a single fish infected with three Henneguya spp. (Cnidaria: Myxosporea). Characterization of the infections using tissue tropism, myxospore morphology and morphometry and 18S rDNA sequencing supported description of three new species: Henneguya setiuensis n. sp., Henneguya voronini n. sp. and H. calcarifer n. sp. Myxospores of all three species had typical Henneguya morphology, with two polar capsules in the plane of the suture, an oval spore body, smooth valve cell surfaces, and two caudal appendages. Spores were morphometrically similar, and many dimensions overlapped, but H. voronini n. sp. had shorter caudal appendages compared with H. calcarifer n. sp. and H. setiuensis n. sp. Gross tissue tropism distinguished the muscle parasite H. calcarifer n. sp. from gill parasites H. setiuensis n. sp. and H. voronini n. sp.; and these latter two species were further separable by fine-scale location of developing plasmodia, which were intra-lamellar for H. setiuensis n. sp. and basal to the filaments for H. voronini n. sp. small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences distinguished all three species: the two gill species H. setiuensis n. sp. and H voronini n. sp. were only 88% similar (over 1708 bp), whereas the muscle species H. calcarifer n. sp. was most similar to H. voronini n. sp. (98% over 1696 bp). None of the three novel species was more than 90% similar to any known myxosporean sequence in GenBank. Low infection prevalence of these myxosporeans and lack of obvious tissue pathology from developing plasmodia suggested none of these parasites are currently a problem for barramundi culture in Setiu Wetland; however additional surveys of fish, particularly at different times of the year, would be informative for better risk assessment.

First evidence of serotoninergic components in the nervous system of the monogenean Chimaericola leptogaster (Chimaericolidae, Polyopisthocotylea), a gill parasite of the relict holocephalan fish.

The localisation and distribution of the serotoninergic nerve elements was studied for the first time in the flatworm Chimaericola leptogaster (Leuckart, 1830) using immunocytochemical methodology and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The musculature was investigated by histochemical staining of actin filaments; scanning electron microscopy was used to identify the sensory structures on the worm's surface. Uniciliated, bi-ciliated and multiciliated sensory endings have been described on the worm's surface. The morphological data demonstrate the presence of circular, longitudinal and diagonal muscles that comprise the musculature of C. leptogaster in the anterior, median and posterior body regions. Well-developed radial and circular muscle fibres were also observed surrounding the genital pore, two vaginae and in clumps of the haptor. The study revealed the presence of biogenic amine, serotonin, in the central and peripheral nervous systems of C. leptogaster: in the neurons and fibres of the cephalic ganglia and ventral nerve cord, in the innervation of reproductive system compartments. The localised sites of the serotoninergic elements point to important roles of serotonin in monogenean reproductive processes and, possibly, in the regulation of muscle function.

New host and geographical record of Eudactylina pusilla Cressey, 1967 from Indian waters with DNA barcodes

The present paper reports the first record of the parasite Eudactylina pusilla Cressey, 1967 from the gills of the pelagic thresher shark, Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935 collected during a multifilament longline operation at a depth of 762 m from Indian EEZ around Andaman Islands. The occurrence of this copepod gill parasite on A. pelagicus in the Indian waters constitutes new host record and extends the parasite’s known geographical distribution, thus contributing to the knowledge of biodiversity of the parasitic copepods in Indian waters. Molecular marker based taxonomical annotation using Mitochondrial 18S r DNA sequencing also confirmed the identity of the E. pusilla specimen.

Description of a new species of Aethycteron Suriano & Beverley-Burton, 1982 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) on the gills of the rare striated darter, Etheostoma striatulum Page & Braasch (Perciformes: Percidae), from the Duck River, Tennessee, USA.

The striated darter (Etheostoma striatulum Page & Braasch) is a rare fish species restricted to the Duck River system in Maury County, Tennessee, USA. In this paper we describe Aethycteron striatuli n. sp., a gill parasite from a genus that has specialised on darters as the parasites' preferred hosts. Aethycteron striatuli morphologically resembles A. malleus (Mueller, 1938), A. robisoni Cloutman & McAllister, 2017, A. chlorosomus (Harrises & Vickery, 1970) and A. micropercae Suriano & Beverley-Burton, 1982. It is distinguished from other species in that it is one of the smallest described parasites in this genus to date and possesses a small male copulatory organ with a distinct accessory piece. This is the first monogenean parasite reported from E. striatulum, a species that is currently under threat due to its restricted range and the potential for habitat loss. It is essential to expand our knowledge of the host and the pressures it faces in its limited habitat, including disease and parasite pressures, so that measures can be taken to preserve this vulnerable native species.

Supplementary studies on Henneguya guanduensis (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) infecting gills and intestine of Hoplosternum littorale in Brazil: Ultrastructural and molecular data

Henneguya guanduensis was originally described as a gill parasite of the Hoplosternum litoralle, a siluriform fish belonging to the Callichthyidae family. A study was undertaken with 58 specimens of H. litoralle taken from Batalha River in the state of São Paulo. The fish were collected and examined searching for lesions and/or myxosporean plasmodia. The prevalence of infection was 9.31% in the gills and 5.17% in the intestine. The mature spores had elongated bodies with polar capsules of inequal size and a caudal length greater than body length. Morphological characteristics identified the parasite as H. guanduensis. Molecular analysis of the SSU rDNA partials sequences resulted in a 1796 bp and 1712 bp for gills and intestine repectively, demonstrating significant genetic differences with previously described species of Henneguya and 99.7% similarity to each other when aligned. Phylogenetic analysis comparing the SSU rDNA sequence of H. guanduensis with closest species as indicated by BLASTn Max Score showed H. guanduensis as sister species of H. loretoensis in a subclade compose by species that parasites fishes from Amazon basin. This is the first report of the finding of Henneguya guanduensis spores in the intestine of Hoplosternum littorale.

Gill parasites of fish and their relation to host and environmental factors in two estuaries in northeastern Brazil

Fish parasites can be good indicators of the quality of water bodies, and their presence or absence can be interpreted as a sign of habitat changes, helping us to diagnose environmental problems. This study was conducted in two estuaries located in the Paraiba state, northeastern Brazil: Mamanguape, an environmental protection area, and Paraiba do Norte, a river with riverside communities along its length. The objective of the study was to determine whether host and abiotic characteristics predict the richness of fish gill parasites and/or the abundance of the most abundant and prevalent parasite species, the copepod Acusicola brasiliensis, testing the species as a possible bioindicator. The fish host species were Anchoa januaria, Atherinella brasiliensis, Mugil curema, and Rhinosardinia bahiensis. Generalized linear models were constructed to test the influence of predictor variables on parasite richness and A. brasiliensis abundance. The predictor variables used in the models were the host relative condition factor (Kn), host length, collection season (rainy or dry), estuary, host species, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a. Both parasite species richness and A. brasiliensis mean abundance showed a significant relation to water quality parameters, suggesting their possible use as environmental quality indicators.

From Africa to Brazil: detection of African Oreochromis niloticus parasites in Brazilian fish farms

Abstract Aim To evaluate the introduction of Oreochromis niloticus gill parasites in the Paranapanema River basin, northern Paraná, southern Brazil, as well as to inventory its occurrences in Brazilian fish farms and discuss the risks of transmission to native fauna. Methods The gills of 632 fish specimens from four fish farms in the Paranapanema Basin were analyzed. The parasites were collected, processed and identified according to specific procedure. Literature review was carried out to compile records of occurrence of gill parasites species in other Brazilian river basins. Results A total of seven (7) species of parasites were recorded, five (5) of the genus Cichlidogyrus, one (1) of Scutogyrus (Ancyrocephalidae, Monogenoidea) and one (1) of Lamproglena, Lamproglena monodi (Copepoda, Lernaeidae). All native from Africa. Some of these species have been reported in fish farms located in five other Brazilian watersheds. However, in this study a greater number of African gill parasite species was recorded in fish farms in northern Paraná (seven species), in the Paranapanema Basin, with Cichlidogyrus rognoni reported only for this basin. Conclusions The results confirm the introduction of these African parasites along with their host, O. niloticus, and the establishment of these species in Brazilian waters, since many specimens belonging to the species identified herein presented breeding activity for at least one period of the year. Although, only L. monodi has been recorded parasitizing Brazilian native species, data reported for other countries demonstrates the imminent risk of transmission of these O. niloticus parasites to native cichlids.

A new genus and species of the Dasybatotreminae Bychowsky, 1957 (Monogenea: Monocotylidae), parasitic on Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan Gilbert) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean off Peru.

Peruanocotyle n. gen. is proposed to accommodate Peruanocotyle chisholmae n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae). The new species is a gill parasite of the diamond stingray, Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan Gilbert) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), a demersal chondrichthyan collected off the coast of Callao, Peru. Peruanocotyle n. gen. is placed in the Dasybatotreminae Bychowsky, 1957 because its anterior attachment organ has multiple glandular openings. Peruanocotyle chisholmae n. gen., n. sp. is unique among the Dasybatotreminae, by having: a well-developed, broadly ovoid anterior attachment organ with numerous grooves and an anteromedial notch; three prominent anterior glands that are connected to numerous peripheral glands; an unusual whip-shaped male copulatory organ composed of four connate tubes; an ejaculatory duct with slightly sclerotized walls where the proximal end has criss-crossed creases and the distal portion is highly convoluted; an ejaculatory bulb with one bipartite internal seminal vesicle; a wheel-shaped haptor with one central loculus and eight peripheral loculi; anchors that are much shorter than the width of marginal membrane and have an accessory sclerotized piece present; four oval testes, arranged in two groups; an ovary that has six clavate, proximal lobules and a distal portion that is strongly coiled; intestinal ceca with large lateral and medial diverticula; an oral opening surrounded by numerous small dome-like papillae; and a single vagina with sclerotized walls. Dasybatotreminae is amended to accommodate the new genus, and the new species is fully described and illustrated herein. The present finding adds to the other three marine monocotylids previously reported from Peru, namely Anoplocotyloides chorrillensis Luque Iannacone, 1991; Anoplocotyloides papillatus (Doran, 1953) Young, 1967 and Monocotyle luquei Chero, Cruces, Iannacone, Sanchez, Minaya, Sáez Alvariño, 2016.