Lernaea cyprinacea (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) in Piabarchus stramineus (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Taquari River, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Author(s)

Narciso, Rodrigo Bravin ^[1] ; Acosta, Aline Angelina ^[1] ; Nobile, Andre Batista ^[2] ; de Lima, Felipe Pontieri ^[2] ; Freitas-Souza, Diogo ^[2] ; da Silva, Reinaldo Jose ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Inst Biosci, Dept Parasitol, Lab Parasitol Wild Anim, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Inst Biosci, Dept Morphol, Lab Biol & Genet Fishes, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOLOGIA; v. 74, n. 9, p. 1171-1179, SEP 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Lernaea cyprinacea is a lernaeid copepod also known as anchor worm. This species is considered one of the most invasive ectoparasites on fishes, with a worldwide distribution. In Brazil, L. cyprinacea has spread in almost the entire country, being recorded parasitizing both native and farmed fishes. Post-metamorphic adult females of L. cyprinacea were recorded for the first-time parasitizing larvae and juveniles of the native fish Piabarchus stramineus sampled in the Taquari River, Upper Paranapanema River, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The lernaeids were found attached to the base of the fins, with a preference for the pelvic fin (43.7% of parasitized hosts). The presence of these parasites on larvae/juveniles resulted in deformations in the host bodies and modification of the caudal peduncle angulation. The findings of L. cyprinacea infecting P. stramineus raises concern about the dispersal of this invasive parasite in natural areas and the deleterious effects of this parasite, especially in young fishes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/24159-3 - The Taquari River as area of reproduction and recruitment of fish and its role in biodiversity maintenance of the Jurumirim Reservoir (Upper Rio Paranapanema, SP)
• Grantee: Reinaldo José da Silva
• Support type: Regular Research Grants