Nelson da Silva Cordeiro

A new species of Henneguya, a gill parasite of Astyanax altiparanae (Pisces: Characidae) from Brazil, with comments on histopathology and seasonality

A new species of Myxosporea, Henneguya chydadea, is described parasitizing the gills of Astyanax altiparanae collected from a lake on Rio das Pedras farm near Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Of the fish examined, 88.3% had gills parasitized by myxosporeans. The prevalence of the parasite ranged from 80% in the spring and fall, 93% in the summer and 100% in the winter. The parasite induced the formation of white, oval-shaped cysts measuring 40-64 microm x 64-80 microm which deformed the gill lamellae, compressed the capillaries, and caused retraction of the neighboring lamellae. The mature spores were elongated and had two identical, parallel elongate polar capsules. Each capsule contained a polar filament with 9-10 turns. There was no mucous envelope or iodinophilous vacuole. Morphometric differences between this parasite and other species of the genus Henneguya indicated, that the parasite observed in A. altiparanae is a new species. This is the first report of a myxosporeanparasitizing A. altiparanae.

Histophatology and ultrastructure of Henneguya caudalongula sp. n. infecting Prochilodus lineatus (Pisces: Prochilodontidae) cultivated in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

The histological and ultrastructural characteristics of a new species of Henneguya and the host reactions to infection by this species are reported. Henneguya caudalongula sp. n. was found in the inter and intralamellar regions of the gills of Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) cultivated at Center for the Research and Management of Continental Fishing Resources located in the municipality of Pirassununga, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The plasmodia were white and round or ellipsoidal and measured 0.2 to 1 mm in length. The development of the parasite was asynchronous and the mature spores were fusiform, with a total length 71 +/- 1.4 microm, body length of 16.6 +/- 0.54 microm and width 4.6 +/- 0.2 microm. The caudal process was 52.6 +/- 1.5 microm long. The polar capsules were elongate (length 6.1 +/- 0.19 microm, width 1.6 +/- 0.15 microm) and of equal size. The polar filament was coiled in 10-11 turns. The prevalence of the parasite was 48.3% and did not vary significantly with the season or host size.

Myxobolus absonus sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) Parasitizing Pimelodus maculatus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), a South American Freshwater Fish

A new myxoporean species is described from a freshwater fish in Brazil. Myxobolus absonus sp. n. was found infecting Pimelodus maculatus captured in the river Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Cysts were found free in the opercular cavity. The spores are large (length--15.7 +/- 1.5 microns, width--10.2 +/- 0.7 microns; mean +/- S.D.) and oval in shape, with the anterior end slightly pointed. The spore valves are relatively thin, smooth, and asymmetrical in a frontal view. The polar capsules are pyriform in shape, and unequal in size; the largest are 6.4 +/- 0.7 microns long and 3.6 +/- 0.5 microns wide, while the smallest are 4.2 +/- 0.6 microns long and 2.5 +/- 0.5 microns wide.

Prevalence and intensity of Haemoproteus columbae in three species of wild doves from Brazil

The prevalence and intensity of blood parasites in three species of wild doves were studied in the municipality of Junqueirópolis, in the western region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Three species of doves were surveyed: 331 specimens of Zenaida auriculata Des Murs, 1847, 62 specimens of Columbina talpacoti Temminck, 1811 and 57 specimens of Scardafella squammata Lesson, 1831. Haemoproteus columbae Kruse, 1890 was found in blood from all the doves species. The prevalence of this parasite was 100% in Z. auriculata, 51.6% in C. talpacoti and 19.3% in S. squammata. Specimens of Z. auriculata had a higher intensity of infection than the other doves species.

Verification of the antagonism between larvae of Schistosoma mansoni and those of other Digenea in Biomphalaria tenagophila, a planorbid molusc from a natural breeding ground in the region of Campinas, SP, Brazil

Foi observado o comportamento de larvas de S. mansoni em moluscos previa e naturalmente infectados por larvas de outros Digenea. Foi verificado que as larvas de S. mansoni nao se desenvolveram nos moluscos previamente infectados com purcocercarias longifurcadas com ocelos ou com furcocercarias longifurcadas sem ocelos. Observou-se resistencia parcial ao desenvolvimento de S. mansoni nos moluscos previamente infectados por equinostomocercarias ou por distomocercarias com aculeo. A ausencia de reacao amebocitaria em torno dos esporocistos de S. mansoni nos moluscos infectados por outros digeneticos parece indicar a nao participacao dos amebocitos na resistencia oferecida ao desenvolvimento das larvas de S. mansoni.Foi observado o comportamento de larvas de S. mansoni em moluscos previa e naturalmente infectados por larvas de outros Digenea. Foi verificado que as larvas de S. mansoni nao se desenvolveram nos moluscos previamente infectados com purcocercarias longifurcadas com ocelos ou com furcocercarias longifurcadas sem ocelos. Observou-se resistencia parcial ao desenvolvimento de S. mansoni nos moluscos previamente infectados por equinostomocercarias ou por distomocercarias com aculeo. A ausencia de reacao amebocitaria em torno dos esporocistos de S. mansoni nos moluscos infectados por outros digeneticos parece indicar a nao participacao dos amebocitos na resistencia oferecida ao desenvolvimento das larvas de S. mansoni.

Henneguya intracornea n.sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) parasita do olho do lambari, Astyanax Scabripinnis (Jenyns, 1842) (Osteichthyes, Characidae)

A new myxosporidian, Henneguya intracornea n.sp., parasitizing the ocular cornea of a freshwater characidian fish Astyanax scabripinnis (Jenyns, 1842), is described. The parasitized hosts have been collected from water reservoirs. These aquatic environments were constructed at small natural branches of Atibaia and Jaguari rivers, near Campinas, SP, Brazil. The different developmental stages of H. intracornea n.sp., as well as their morphological and biological characteristics are studied. In all cases examined it was observed that the myxosporidian only occurred in the cornea. The most important morphological characteristics of this new species are its bottle-shaped polar capsules and their unequal caudal processes.

Eimeria curvata n. sp.(Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in Columbina talpacoti and Scardafella squammata (Aves: Columbidae) from Brazil

Eimeria curvata is a new coccidian described in the doves Columbina talpacoti and Scardafella squammata from western of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The oocysts are ovoid to ellipsoid, 18.3 (17-19) microm x 15.5 (15-17) microm, with a shape index of 1.2 (1.1-1.3). The wall is colorless, smooth and double-layered. A polar granule is present, but there is no micropyle or oocyst residuum. The sporocysts are elongate, 12.3 (11.5-13) microm x 5.8 (5.5-6) microm with a curved anterior portion and a smooth, thin, single-layered wall. The Stieda body is protuberant and nipple-like; there is no substieda body. The sporozoites lie head-to-tail in the sporocyst and contain a large refractile body at the extremities. The sporocyst residuum contains small granules uniformly distributed in the middle of the sporocyst. The prevalence of E. curvata n. sp. was 17.4% and 12.8% in C. talpacoti and S. squammata, respectively.

Apedunculata discoidea gen. n., sp. n. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) parasitic on Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837) (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) from southeastern Brazil

A new species of dactylogyrid monogenean, Apedunculata discoidea gen. n., sp. n. is described and illustrated from the gills of the freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837) in pisciculture ponds from Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil. Diagnostic characters of the new genus and species are: 1) vagina dextrolateral slightly sclerotised, opening anteriorly at level of copulatory complex; 2) copulatory organ coiled with two counterclockwise rings; 3) Accessory piece distal and not articulated; 4) body disk-shaped, lacking a peduncle.

Brachylaima mazzantii (Trematoda): first record in Zenaida auriculata (Aves: Columbidae)

Veintitres ejemplares de Zenaida auriculata Des Murs, 1847 fueron capturados en el municipio de Junqueiropolis en la region oeste del estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil. Brachylaima mazzantii (Travassos, 1927) Dollfus, 1935 fue encontrado parasitando a uno de los ejemplares examinados. Este es el primer registro de este trematodo en palomas del genero Zenaida

Taxorchis caviae sp. n. (Trematoda, Paramphistomidae), parasito intestinal de Cavia aperea Erxleben, 1777 (Rodentia, Caviidae)

This paper deals with a new species of a paramphistomid trematode, Taxorchis caviae n. sp., found in a wild Brazilian rodent, Cavia aperea aperea Erxleben, 1777. Differences between T. caviae and species of Cladorchis Fischoeder, 1901, Stichorchis Fischoeder, 1901 and Taxorchis Fischoeder, 1901, are discussed and some alteration in the diagnosis of the genus Taxorchis are proposed.