Aurélia Saraiva

Short segments of Barrett’s epithelium and intestinal metaplasia in normal appearing oesophagogastric junctions: the same or two different entities?

Background—Endoscopic diagnosis of short segments of Barrett’s epithelium (SSBE) is difficult and its meaning in terms of the presence of specialised columnar epithelium (SCE) has not been prospectively evaluated. Aims—To evaluate the prevalence of SCE in patients with an endoscopic diagnosis of SSBE and in individuals with normal appearing oesophagogastric junctions, and to compare the clinical characteristics of these two groups. Patients—Thirty one patients with an endoscopic diagnosis of short Barrett’s oesophagus, less than 3 cm in length (group A), and 44 consecutive patients with normal appearing oesophagogastric junctions (group B). Methods—Multiple biopsies were performed in suspicious epithelium and at the oesophagogastric junction in groups A and B, respectively. Results—Age and sex distribution were similar in both groups. Reflux symptoms were more frequent in group A (p<0.001), as were endoscopic and histological signs of oesophagitis (p<0.0001 and p=0.001, respectively). SCE was found in 61.3% of group A patients compared with 25% in group B (p<0.002), with men predominating in group A while women were more frequent in group B (p=0.02). The differences in reflux symptoms and endoscopic/histological oesophagitis remained significant. Conclusions—These results show that endoscopic diagnosis of SSBE is associated with a high prevalence of SCE, significantly higher than that found in normal appearing oesophagogastric junctions. Differences between patients with SCE in the two groups suggest they may represent two different entities.

Synopsis of the species of Kudoa Meglitsch, 1947 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Multivalvulida)

A synopsis of the species of Kudoa Meglitsch, 1947 (Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Multivalvulida) is presented, including 95 nominal species. For each species the most relevant morphological and morphometric features are indicated in tabulated format. Included are data on the site of infection within the host, the type-host and type-locality, plus a full bibliography of the original records for these species. Molecular data (GenBank accession numbers) are also provided whenever possible.

Infection levels and diversity of anisakid nematodes in blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo, from Portuguese waters

The blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo, is a sparid fish of great economic importance in the northeast Atlantic. The main aim of this work was to assess the infection levels and diversity of anisakid nematodes parasitizing P. bogaraveo from Portuguese waters. The anisakid larvae were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and ten different patterns were observed, four of which were not previously reported in the literature. Moreover, several species were detected for the first time in this host: Anisakis simplex × Anisakis pegreffii hybrids, Anisakis ziphidarum, Anisakis typica, Anisakis physeteris, as well as three undescribed anisakids Anisakis sp. PB-2009, Anisakis sp. PB-2010, and Contracaecum sp. PB-2010. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region was sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically, revealing that our anisakids were distributed by the two distinct clades reported previously, corresponding to the two recognized larval morphotypes. Moreover, a group of organisms, including our specimens from Madeira and the previously reported Anisakis sp. HC-2005, cluster together and seem to belong to clade I. A certain degree of intraspecific diversity was also detected. Samples from mainland waters had the highest infection levels and were dominated by A. pegreffii. Madeira had the highest diversity overall, dominated by Anisakis sp. PB-2010. Fish from the Azores had the lowest infection levels, and the species with the highest relative abundance was A. physeteris. The anisakid nematode communities were relatively similar in mainland waters but very distinct in both the Azores and Madeira islands, suggesting the existence of at least three different stocks of P. bogaraveo in the northeast Atlantic.

Synopsis of the species of Myxidium Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida)

A synopsis of the species of Myxidium Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) is presented. It includes a total of 232 nominal species, whose principal morphological and morphometric characteristics, site of infection within the host, and original hosts and locality are indicated in a tabulated format. A diagrammatic illustration of a spore of most of the species is also provided.

Distribution of larval anisakids in blue whiting off Portuguese fish market

SummarySpecimens of Micromesistius poutassou (n=238) obtained in a fish market of Oporto, Portugal, were examined for the presence of larval anisakids. Anisakis sp. L3 larvae (prevalence = 77.7 %; mean intensity = 5.8; mean abundance = 4.5) and Hysterothylacium sp. L3 larvae (prevalence = 5 %; mean intensity = 4.1; mean abundance = 0.2) were found in body cavity, mesenteries, liver and muscles. The Anisakis sp. intensity and abundance were significantly related to the host body length. The percentage of Anisakis sp. in muscle was inversely related to the host length.

Synopsis of the species of Chloromyxum Mingazinni, 1890 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Chloromyxidae)

A synopsis of the species of Chloromyxum Mingazinni, 1890 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Chloromyxidae) is presented, including 140 nominal species. For each species the most relevant morphological and morphometric characteristics are indicated. Included are data on the site of infection within the host, the original host and the host locality, plus a full bibliography of the original records for these species. A diagrammatic illustration of a spore of each species is also provided.

New Metacestodes of Gryporhynchid Tapeworms (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) from Carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) from Mozambique, Africa

Abstract Larvae of 2 species of gryporhynchid tapeworms (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) were found in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) from Mozambique, Africa. Metacestodes of Parvitaenia samfyia Mettrick, 1967, a species never reported since the original description of its adults from herons (Ardeidae) in Zambia were found in the intestinal wall, whereas larvae of an unidentified species of Cyclustera Fuhrmann, 1901, closely resembling Cyclustera magna (Baer, 1959), a species with larvae previously reported from Tillapia zillii (Gervais) in Africa, were encapsulated in the liver of carp. Larval stages of both gryporhynchids are reported from fish for the first time. The present findings of metacestodes in common carp provide evidence that this economically important fish, which is nonnative in Africa and was introduced for aquaculture, may become infected with larvae of native gryporhynchid cestodes. The morphology of both species is described and their rostellar hooks, which are crucial for species identification of metacestodes, are illustrated.

A note on the infection of Scomberomorus brasiliensis (Osteichthyes, Scombridae) by Kudoa sp. (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida)

The infection of Scomberomorus brasiliensis by the myxozoan Kudoa sp. is reported. The parasites formed plasmodiae inside the skeletal muscle fibres. The spores were quadrate in apical view and bell-like shaped in lateral view, containing four equally sized more or less rounded polar capsules. No detrimental effects were observed in the host, namely muscle liquefaction. The importance of these parasites is discussed.

Parasites of the Mutton Snapper Lutjanus analis (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) in Alagoas, Brazil

A parasitological survey was carried out on a sample of sixty mutton snappers (Lutjanus analis) that were caught on the coast of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. The parasite diversity and infection levels were low. The ectoparasite Rocinela signata Schioedte & Meinert, 1879 (Isopoda: Aegidae), and larvae of two endoparasites, Trypanorhyncha gen. sp. and Hysterothylacium sp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae), were detected. The significance of these parasites is discussed in the context of their transmission pathways and potential impact.

Ectoparasites of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Teleostei: Sparidae) from Portuguese waters of the north-east Atlantic

The ectoparasite community of the blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo , was studied in different locations in Portuguese waters of the north-east Atlantic Ocean. This is the first study to focus on the ectoparasites of this commercially important sparid fish. Nine ectoparasite species were detected. Gnathia sp., Aega deshaysiana, A. antillensis, Rocinela danmoniensis and Argulus sp. are reported for the first time on this host. Significant differences were detected among the sampling locations, with monogeneans being more prevalent in mainland waters, and crustaceans being more prevalent in the Atlantic islands of Madeira and Azores. Fish from Madeira showed significantly higher infection levels of all ectoparasites, especially crustaceans, and particularly high prevalence of Hatschekia pagellibogneravei . The potential impact of the species detected on captive fish is also discussed, since the blackspot seabream is a promising new species for marine aquaculture.