Felipe B. Pereira

Seasonal influence on the parasite fauna of a wild population of Astronotus ocellatus (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from the Brazilian Amazon.

Abstract: Parasite infracommunities were studied in 202 specimens of Astronotus ocellatus collected from a freshwater lake in the State of Amapá, northern Brazil. Relationships between some host attributes (i.e., ontogeny, sex, and body size) and parasite infections were analyzed, but the primary focus was the seasonal variation in the parasite fauna. In total, 6,308,912 parasites belonging to 11 different taxa were found. Protozoa were the most abundant and dominant taxa, but monogeneans, trematode metacercariae, and nematode larvae were also prevalent and abundant. Fish ontogeny had a weak influence on parasite infection rates; juveniles were more parasitized by Dolops nana and Posthodiplostomum sp. The abundances of all parasite species were weakly correlated with host body size (low r2 values), except D. nana, Contracaecum sp., and Posthodiplostomum sp., which exhibited no correlation between abundance and host body size. Prevalence and abundance were different between flood and drainage seasons for all parasite species, except for D. nana and the 2 metacercarial species. Astronotus ocellatus may represent a link in food-web transmissions for parasites because it is used both as definitive and intermediate host. The parasite fauna of A. ocellatus was composed primarily of ectoparasites, and this could be considered typical of fishes that inhabit lentic waters. Seasonality was a strong determinant in the parasite community structure.

A New Physaloptera (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) Parasite of Tupinambis merianae (Squamata: Teiidae) from Southeastern Brazil

Abstract: Physaloptera tupinambae n. sp. (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) collected from the stomach of 1 Tupinambis merianae (Squamata: Teiidae) male lizard is described. Physaloptera tupinambae, which belongs to the didelphys group, is the only species in the genus that exhibits a bipartite internal tooth and in which the excretory pore is anterior to the deirids. The new species can be differentiated from the other congeners mainly based on the number and pattern of caudal papillae and the length and shape of spicules. Physaloptera murisbrasiliensis and Physaloptera clausa orientalis are the only physalopterids with the same number of caudal papillae as for P. tupinambae, but they differ from the new species mainly in length and shape of spicules. Based on morphological analysis, the speciation process among Physaloptera probably occurred via host capture, and P. tupinambae occupies an intermediate phylogenetic position in the genus. Most likely, the new parasite was acquired by the lizard through ingestion of an intermediate host. Finally, Physaloptera calotisi, Physaloptera funambuli, Physaloptera guptae, Physaloptera indica, Physaloptera johnsoni, Physaloptera kherai, and Physaloptera thaparus are moved to Abbreviata.

Helminth parasites of South American fishes: current status and characterization as a model for studies of biodiversity

The South American subcontinent supports one of the worlds most diverse and commercially very important ichthyofauna. In this context, the study of South American fish parasites is of increased relevance in understanding their key roles in ecosystems, regulating the abundance or density of host populations, stabilizing food webs and structuring host communities. It is hard to estimate the number of fish parasites in South America. The number of fish species studied for parasites is still low (less than 10%), although the total number of host-parasite associations (HPAs) found in the present study was 3971. Monogeneans, with 835 species (1123 HPAs, 28.5%), and trematodes, with 662 species (1127 HPAs, 30.9%), are the more diverse groups. Data gathered from the literature are useful to roughly estimate species richness of helminths from South American fish, even though there are some associated problems: the reliability of information depends on accurate species identification; the lack of knowledge about life cycles; the increasing number of discoveries of cryptic species and the geographically biased number of studies. Therefore, the closest true estimations of species diversity and distribution will rely on further studies combining both molecular and morphological approaches with ecological data such as host specificity, geographical distribution and life-cycle data. Research on biodiversity of fish parasites in South America is influenced by problems such as funding, taxonomic impediments and dispersion of research groups. Increasing collaboration, interchange and research networks in the context of globalization will enable a promising future for fish parasitology in South America.

A morphological and molecular study of two species of Raphidascaroides Yamaguti, 1941 (Nematoda: Anisakidae), parasites of doradid catfish (Siluriformes) in South America, with a description of R. moraveci n. sp.

Nematodes of the genus Raphidascaroides Yamaguti, 1941 parasitising doradid catfishes (Siluriformes: Doradidae) in Brazil were studied based on morphological and molecular evaluation of newly collected material. A new species, Raphidascaroides moraveci n. sp., is described from the intestine of Platydoras armatulus (Valenciennes) from River Miranda, River Paraguay basin, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul. The new species differs from all of the congeners in having short spicules (163–217 μm in length) representing less than 1% of the total body length and in the posterior region of cloacal opening covered by small rudimentary spines. In addition, it differs from the other congeneric species in the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae and the structure of lips and tail. Raphidascaroides moraveci n. sp. is the third species described from freshwater fishes and the second one in the Neotropical Region. New morphological data on R. brasiliensis Moravec & Thatcher, 1997 from Megalodoras uranoscopus (Eigenmann & Eigenmann) and Platydoras costatus (Linnaeus) (both new host records) from River Xingu, River Amazon basin, Pará, are provided including scanning electron micrographs of taxonomically important structures. The differentiation of the new species is supported by molecular data (partial sequences of the small and large subunits of the rRNA gene).

A survey of nematodes of the genus Cucullanus Müller, 1777 (Nematoda, Seuratoidea) parasitic in marine fishes off Brazil, including description of three new species

A taxonomic survey of six nematode species (including three new taxa) from the genus Cucullanus Müller, 1777, parasites of marine fishes off the Brazilian coast, is provided. Nematodes were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cucullanus gastrophysi n. sp. parasitic in Lophius gastrophysus Miranda Ribeiro differs from its congeners by the combination of the following features: shape and number of sclerotized structures in the oesophastome (a pair of lateral elongate structures and a single small reniform one), position of deirids and excretory pore (both anterior to oesophagus base), spicule length and spicule/body length ratio (0.97-1.29 mm and 6.5-10.5%, respectively), morphology and length of gubernaculum (V-shaped, 107-135 µm long). Cucullanus protrudens n. sp. from Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus) has the cloacal lips broadly protruded, which differentiates it from several species of Cucullanus; other features, e.g., the length of spicules and gubernaculum (400-415 µm and 91-103 µm, respectively), arrangement of caudal papillae and position of excretory pore (slightly posterior to oesophagus-intestine junction) also characterize this species. Cucullanus pseudopercis n. sp. from Pseudopercis semifasciata (Cuvier) has deirids and excretory pore posterior to the oesophagus-intestine junction, which distinguishes the species from most of the congeners; furthermore, the arrangement of caudal papillae in combination with the length of spicules and gubernaculum (1.0-1.5 mm and 178-196 µm, respectively) separate this species from other taxa. Newly collected specimens of C. cirratus Müller, 1777 (type species of the genus) from Urophycis brasiliensis (Kaup), C. pedroi from Conger orbignianus Valenciennes (type host of the species) and C. genypteri Sardella, Navone & Timi, 1997 from Genypterus brasiliensis Regan, were studied as well. Comparisons between newly collected samples and the taxonomic data available for each respective species revealed features that were not previously mentioned (e.g. presence of unpaired cloacal papilla, detailed morphology of cloacal lips), as well as negligible differences in morphometry and caudal papillae arrangement. Observations on the type material of C. carioca suggested affinities with the genus Dichelyne Jägerskiöld, 1902; however, the poor preservation of these specimens does not allow further conclusions. Cucullanus rougetae is considered to be a species inquirenda.

Physaloptera bainae n. sp. (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) Parasitic in Salvator merianae (Squamata: Teiidae), with a Key to Physaloptera Species Parasitizing Reptiles from Brazil

Abstract:  Physaloptera bainae n. sp. (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) from stomach of the large “tegú” lizard Salvator merianae (Squamata: Teiidae), collected in an ecological park that is part of the Atlantic Rainforest biome in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described. The new species which has females with didelphic uterus, is the only species of the genus exhibiting external teeth in the form of 4 spines that are organized in a cross-shaped pattern at the anterior apical end, with 2 minute adcloacal papillae on the anterior part of cloacal aperture in males and a large cuticular expansion at the anterior end of females. Moreover, P. bainae n. sp. can be differentiated from the other congeners by the combination of other features, e.g., number (23) and pattern of caudal papillae, spicule size (left 554–600; right 589–617) and vulval position (on the first third of body), and because the specimens are particularly large and robust. Physaloptera monodens is considered a junior synonym of P. obtusissima. In addition, a key to Physaloptera species parasitizing reptiles from Brazil is provided.

Morphology and molecular characterization hold hands: clarifying the taxonomy of Hysterothylacium (Nematoda: Anisakidae) larval forms

During the last decade, many morphotypes of larval forms of Hysterothylacium have been proposed; however, their boundaries are taxonomically unclear. We compare newly collected material with data available for Hysterothylacium larvae, based on genetics and morphology, in order to evaluate their relationships and simplify their classification. The previously described Hysterothylacium larval type IV, type V, and type X were found in several marine fishes from Brazil. A new Hysterothylacium larval type XV, parasitic in Elops saurus from State of Sergipe, north-eastern Brazil, was proposed based on its genetic singularity and the presence of numerous spines throughout the body. Based upon phylogenetic reconstruction using the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) ITS2 sequences along with morphological traits, the following third stage larvae were considered valid (synonyms are inside parenthesis) type III (= types VII and VIII), type V (= types VI, XII, and XIII), and type X (= type XIV). Despite the lack of molecular data, Hysterothylacium larval type II is considered as synonym of type I because of their identical morphology. The morphometry of Hysterothylacium third stage larvae proved to be weak as a diagnostic tool due to its high rates of variation. Phylogenetic reconstruction using the concatenated sequences of rDNA ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 and the mitochondrion DNA (mtDNA) cox2 revealed that the sampled Hysterothylacium larval types V may represent three different species and H. deardorffovestreetorum may represent two different taxa. Furthermore, H. deardorffovestreetorum is considered species inquirenda due to its problematic description and diagnosis which are based only on larvae. A key to Hysterothylacium larvae from marine fishes is provided.

The relationship between nematode infections and ontogeny and diet of the lizard Tropidurus torquatus (Wied, 1820) (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from the Atlantic Rainforest in south-eastern Brazil.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between nematode infection and the ontogeny and diet of the lizard Tropidurus torquatus from a rocky outcrop in the state of Minas Gerais, south-eastern Brazil. Eighty-nine of 110 lizards examined (81.9%) harboured nematodes. Two nematode species were identified, namely, Physaloptera lutzi in the stomach and Parapharyngodon bainae in the intestine, with prevalence values of 67.3 and 60.0%, respectively. The lizard diet was composed mainly of ants, other hymenopterans, beetles and flowers of the species Centrosema coriaceum (Fabaceae). Host body size was positively correlated with nematode abundance, with adults more heavily parasitized than juveniles. The consumption of C. coriaceum had a negative effect on the abundance of both nematode species, suggesting that this plant may possess anthelmintic properties. The probability of a higher worm burden in adult hosts is likely linked with a longer exposure time to infective stages. Beetles, ants and hymenopterans appear to be the main intermediate hosts for P. lutzi. In general, ontogeny and diet composition determine the structure of the helminth community in this species of lizard.

Parapharyngodon hugoi n. sp., a new nematode (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) of the tree frog Trachycephalus typhonius (Linnaeus) from the Brazilian Pantanal, including a key to the congeners from amphibians of the American continent

Abstract A new nematode Parapharyngodon hugoi n. sp. (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) is described parasitising the large intestine of the tree frog Trachycephalus typhonius (Linnaeus) (Anura: Hylidae) from the wetlands of Pantanal, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The new species exhibits a unique structure of the posterior cloacal lip in males, which is supported by a rigid V-shaped structure. Parapharyngodon hylidae parasitic in hylid frogs, including T. typhonius, from Mexico, is the most similar congener to P. hugoi n. sp. but is distinguished from the new species by the presence of a gubernaculum (vs absence), by the lateral alae in males ending far anterior to cloacal opening (vs near to it) and because in gravid females the ovaries encircle the oesophageal corpus. Additionally, the new species differs from its congeners as well as from species of Thelandros Wedl, 1862, a very closely related genus, by the combination of features such as spicule length, number of caudal papillae, morphology of the anterior cloacal lip, which is echinate, and position of ovaries. The geographical distribution of hosts seems to play an important role in the speciation process of Parapharyngodon spp.; however, due the lack of molecular data this issue along with the validity of both Thelandros and Parapharyngodon are still questions to be solved in the future, after improvement of the genetic database. A key to the species of Parapharyngodon parasitic in amphibians from the American continent is provided.

A new species of Cucullanus Müller, 1777 (Nematoda: Cucullanidae) parasitic in the grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus Gmelin (Osteichthyes: Balistidae) off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Cucullanus brevicaudatus n. sp. (Cucullanidae) is described from the intestine of Balistes capriscus Gmelin (Balistidae) off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The new species can be differentiated from its congeners in the small body length, the shape of the gubernaculum, the particular size and morphology of the tail in both males and females, the arrangement of the caudal papillae, the narrow oesophageal base, and the eggs with rugged shells. In addition, the combination of some features, i.e. number of caudal papillae, spicule length, oesophagus/body length ratio, host family and geographical distribution, can help to easily distinguish the new species from other cucullanids. Considering these features, C. brevicaudatus differs from the species assigned to Dichelyne Törnquist, 1931 which exhibit morphological proximity with Cucullanus Müller, 1777. Regarding the life-cycle of cucullanid nematodes, available evidence suggests that some species are primarily heteroxenous using invertebrates (i.e. crustaceans, polychaetes) as intermediate hosts, but in other a histotrophic phase in the definitive host replaces the intermediate host.