Helminth parasites of Cichla ocellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801 collected in the Jacare-Pepira River, Sao Paulo state, Brazil

Author(s)

Januario, Felipe F. ; Giao, Thayana ; De Azevedo, Rodney K. ; Abdallah, Vanessa D.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências; v. 91, n. 2, p. 11-pg., 2019-01-01.

Abstract

Cichla ocellaris is native to the Amazon region. It is popularly known as tucunare and is widely used for human consumption. It is difficult to breed in captivity due to its highly predatory habits, it is considered symbolic of sport fishing in Brazil. This study aimed to make a qualitative and quantitative survey of helminth parasites of C. ocellaris. Thirty specimens from the Jacare-Pepira River, located in the municipality of Ibitinga, in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, were studied. The river is located 13 km from the urban area and at an altitude of approximately 600 m. A total of four taxa of metazoan parasites were collected and identified in Cestoda, Digenea, Monogenea and Nematoda. The cestoid Proteocephalus macrophallus presented the highest prevalence (63.3%) and had the greatest abundance and intensity, being found only in the intestine and stomach. The parasites found showed a significant positive correlation between the total body length of the hosts and the prevalence, as did the weight. This is the first study of helminth parasites of this host conducted in the Jacare-Pepira River and the first record of a new location for P. macrophallus. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/17932-9 - Study of parasites of Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) collected in river Batalha, Tiete-Batalha basin, SP, Brazil
• Grantee: Thayana Gião
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 12/23655-0 - Biodiversity of the metazoan parasites of the species of fishes that are predominant in the Batalha River, middle Tietê River, State of São Paulo, Brazil
• Grantee: Vanessa Doro Abdallah Kozlowiski
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants