Juan Manuel Caspeta-Mandujano

Helminth Parasites of Freshwater Fishes of the Pánuco River Basin, East Central Mexico

Abstract This study presents results from a survey of helminth parasites of fishes in the Pánuco River basin, in the states of San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Querétaro and Guanajuato, all in east central Mexico. Seventeen freshwater fish species (n = 1,019) were examined for helminths between May 1997 and September 1998. Thirty-one helminth species were collected: 11 allogenic species, mostly Nearctic in origin, and 20 autogenic species. Two anthropogenically introduced species were recorded. The most prevalent and widespread helminth taxon was Posthodiplostomum minimum (metacercariae). The helminth fauna of fishes of the Pánuco River is dominated by trematodes (12 species) and nematodes (11 species) accompanied by a few monogenean (4 species), cestode (3 species), and acanthocephalan (1 species) taxa. Most of the helminth taxa reported have been reported from other regions of Mexico. Thus, the helminth parasite fauna of fishes of the Pánuco River basin are not exclusive, including a primordially autogenic Neotropical species component mixed with a mainly allogenic, globally distributed Nearctic species component. The regional freshwater fish helminth fauna is associated with the ichthyofaunanal composition of the basin. The nematode family Rhabdochonidae displays high species richness in this hydrological basin of Mexico.

Helminth Parasites of Freshwater Fishes of the Ayuquila River, Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, West Central Mexico

Abstract This study presents results from the first survey of the helminth parasites of fishes in the Ayuquila River, Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, in the states of Jalisco and Colima, west central Mexico. Twenty-eight helminth species were collected from 14 freshwater fish species in July 2000 and February 2001. No helminth species collected is exclusive to the Ayuquila River: 11 are allogenic species, mostly Nearctic in origin, and 17 are autogenics. Three introduced species were recovered. Saccocoelioides sogandaresi (Trematoda) was the most prevalent and widespread helminth recovered. The fish helminth fauna of the Ayuquila River is dominated by trematode and nematode species with only a few monogenean and acanthocephalan species. The fauna exhibits considerable overlap with that reported for other freshwater basins in Mexico, and all helminths recovered have been reported previously from Mexico.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF RHABDOCHONIDS (NEMATODA: RHABDOCHONIDAE) FROM FRESHWATER FISHES IN MEXICO, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS

Two new nematode species, Beaninema nayaritense n. gen., n. sp. and Rhabdochona xiphophori n. sp., are described on the basis of the specimens recovered from the gall bladder and intestine of 2 fishes, Cichlasoma beani (Jordan) (Cichlidae, Perciformes) and Xiphophorus sp. (Poeciliidae, Cyprinodontiformes), respectively, from Mexico. The monotypic genus Beaninema differs from other rhabdochonid genera mainly in the presence of large conical teeth in the middle of the prostom. Rhabdochona xiphophori is characterized mainly by a unique structure of the prostom (presence of 6 anterior teeth; dorsal and ventral teeth unusually broad, with 2 lateral horns) and the shape of the deirids (bifurcated, with markedly long base).

Helminth parasites of freshwater fish in Chiapas, Mexico.

An inventory based on previously published records and original data is presented for the helminth parasites reported in 54 fish species from 17 families from the state of Chiapas, southeast Mexico. This survey reports the presence of 43 helminth species in Chiapas for the first time. The actualized inventory of helminth parasites of freshwater fish from Chiapas contains 88 species from 67 genera and 40 helminth families. Trematodes and nematodes were the most abundant taxonomic groups. The helminth fauna in freshwater fishes from Chiapas consists of Central American species. All the helminth species recorded in Chiapas have also been collected from bodies of freshwater between the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the Isthmus of Panama. This inventory shows that this fauna is quite similar to that from the neighboring basins of the lower Grijalva–Usumacinta system and the Yucatan Peninsula. The taxonomic composition and distribution data reported here for the helminth fauna of Chiapas’ freshwater fish, contribute to a better understanding of this faunal component in Central America.

THREE NEW PROCAMALLANUS (SPIROCAMALLANUS) SPECIES FROM FRESHWATER FISHES IN MEXICO

The following 3 new species of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) are described from the intestines of freshwater fishes in Mexico, all belonging to the morphological group characterized by the presence of wide caudal alae, 3 pairs of subventral preanal papillae, and unequal spicules in the male: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) jaliscensis n. sp. (type host: Agonostomus monticola) and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) gobiomori n. sp. (hosts: Gobiomorus maculatus [type host], Gobiomorus polylepis and Eleotris picta) from 2 rivers in Jalisco State, western Mexico, and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) mexicanus n. sp. (type host: Cichlasoma geddesi) from Xalapa District, Veracruz State (Gulf of Mexico region), southeastern Mexico. Procamallanus jaliscensis is characterized by the length of the spicules (606–900 µm and 282–354 µm), number (15–16) of spiral ridges in the buccal capsule, and the digit-like protrusion with 1 terminal cuticular spike on the female tail; P. mexicanus by the length of the spicules (456–480 µm and 231–233 µm), number (10–12) of spiral ridges in the capsule, and the shape of the female tail (conical with a suddenly narrowed distal part, without any terminal spikes); and P. gobiomori by the length of spicules (318–348 µm and 156–192 µm), number (8–10) of spiral ridges and by the digit-like protrusion with 2 terminal cuticular spikes on the female tail.

New species of Cacatuocotyle (Monogenoidea, Dactylogyridae) parasitizing the anus and the gill lamellae of Astyanax aeneus (Pisces, Ostariophysi: Characidae) from the Rio Lacantún basin in the Biosphere Reserve of Montes Azules, Chiapas, Mexico

As part of a biological inventory of the Rio Lacantún basin in the Biosphere Reserve of Montes Azules from Chiapas State (southeastern, Mexico), the following monogenoid ectoparasites infecting the external surface of the anal opening and the gill lamellae of the freshwater fish Astyanax aeneus (Characidae) in ten streams were found: Cacatuocotyle chajuli sp. nov. (anus), Cacatuocotyle exiguum sp. nov., and Cacatuocotyle sp. (gill lamellae). C. chajuli is differentiated from its single congener, Cacatuocotyle paranaensis (Boeger et al. Syst Parasitol 36:75–78, 1997), from the gills of Characidium lanei (Characidae) from Paraná Brazil, in having a noticeably V-shaped haptoral bar and larger hooks and anchors. C. exiguum differs from these two latter species in the size of its anchors. Illustrations and data on morphological and biometric variability of individual specimens of C. chajuli and C. exiguum from different streams are provided. The present data support the statement about three species of Astyanax, which harbor the richest monogenoidean diversity in the Neotropics with a total of 18 species reported up to now. Occurrences of species of Cacatuocotyle on different sites of infection on three distant host species [including a Neotropical cichlid (Cichlidae) species] suggest that these monogenoideans switching to new hosts can result in the availability of potential hosts within the same habitat instead of showing signs of preferential switching between closely related hosts or on their respective microhabitats.

A NEW PHILOMETRID SPECIES (NEMATODA) FROM THE FRESHWATER FISH CICHLASOMA ISTLANUM (JORDAN AND SNYDER, 1899) (CICHLIDAE) IN MEXICO

Abstract A new nematode species, Philometra poblana n. sp., is described based on specimens recovered from skin at the base of the pectoral fins of the cichlid Cichlasoma istlanum (Jordan and Snyder, 1899) from the water spring El Borbollon, in the State of Puebla, Mexico. The new species most closely resembles Philometra gymnosardae and Philometra ophisterni; however, P. poblana can be easily differentiated from the other species by the length of gravid females (7.10–10.43 vs. 14.8– 27.0 and 28.67–39.30 mm, respectively), length of caudal projections (0.015–0.023 vs. 0.047 and 0.006–0.009 mm high, respectively), site of infection (skin at base of pectoral fins vs. abdominal cavity, both species), and the host species (Cichlidae vs. Synbranchidae and Scombridae).

Paracreptotrema profundulusi n. sp. and P. blancoi Choudhury, Pérez-Ponce De León, Brooks, and Daverdin, 2006 (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) from Freshwater Fishes of the Genus Profundulus (Teleostei: Profundulidae) in Southern México

abstract:  Paracreptotrema profundulusi n. sp. (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) is described from the intestine of the freshwater fishes Profundulus punctatus and P. balsanus (Teleostei: Profundulidae) from the Tehuantepec and the Atoyac-Verde River basins, in Oaxaca, México, in the western extreme of Central America. The new species is distinguished from Paracreptotrema blancoi Choudhury, Pérez-Ponce de León, Brooks, and Daverdin, 2006, to which it is most similar, and from P. mendezi (Sogandares-Bernal, 1955) Choudhury, Pérez-Ponce de León, Brooks, and Daverdin, 2006, by the caeca extending beyond the testes, vitelline follicles that invade the postesticular area, and uterus with transverse loops located mainly between the testes and the genital pore. Paracreptotrema blancoi was collected from the same host species and also from Profundulus oaxacae. Here, we provide data that show its broad distribution in several river basins of Neotropical southern México, including the Papagayo River basin, Guerrero, México, and the Atoyac-Verde and Tehuantepec river basins, and other rivers in Oaxaca, México. Freshwater fishes of the Profundulidae are endemic to Central America and host a helminth fauna that includes at least 4 species found only in these hosts.

A NEW CUCULLANID SPECIES (NEMATODA) FROM THE FRESHWATER FISH VIEJA INTERMEDIA (GÜNTHER, 1862) (CICHLIDAE) IN MEXICO

A new nematode species, Cucullanus angeli n. sp., is described from specimens recovered from the intestine of Vieja intermedia (Günther, 1862) from the Lacantun River, State of Chiapas, Mexico. It is characterized largely by having an unusual distinct unpaired median papilla present on anterior cloacal lip in the male and the situation of phasmids (close to eighth pair of papillae); it is further characterized by equal spicules (length 175–475 μm), distribution of caudal papillae, a preanal sucker surrounded by first and second pair of papillae, and conical tail in both sexes, ending in small terminal digitiform process (being more conspicuous in the female).

First record of the invasive Asian fish tapeworm Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in Honduras, Central America

This paper provides the first report of the invasive Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934, in Honduras. The cestode was found in Profundulus portillorum (Cyprinodontiformes: Profundulidae), which represents a new host record, and which is a member of a genus faced with a variety of conservation challenges, now potentially complicated by the presence of this pathogenic cestode. Nearly complete sequence data from the ITS-1 5.8S and ITS-2 regions corroborate the determination based on morphological characteristics. Several species of carp were introduced to Honduras for aquaculture purposes in the early 1980s and the presence of the Asian fish tapeworm in Honduras may be related to these introductions. In addition, this report documents the currently known geographical distribution of this parasite in Central America, first recorded from Panamá and now from Honduras.