Article
Dawestrema cycloancistrium (Monogenea) from the head pores of arapaimas
Registro en:
SANTOS, Claudia Portes; SILVA, Maralina Torres da; MORAVEC, Frantisek. Dawestrema cycloancistrium (Monogenea) from the head pores of arapaimas. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, v.195, p.93-100, July 2017.
0177-5103
10.3354/dao03136
1616-1580
Autor
Santos, Cláudia Portes
Silva, Maralina Torres da
Moravec, Frantisek
Resumen
Arapaima gigas is one of the main cultured fish species in South America, and monogenean parasites of this species cause large economic losses to fish farmers. During surveys of the parasites of cultured arapaimas from Mexiana Island in the Amazon River Delta, Rio Branco, in northwestern Brazilian Amazonia, and Yurimaguas, Peru, the monogenean Dawestrema cycloancistrium was found in the gills of A. gigas as well as in previously unreported sites, i.e. the head pores and chambers. The aim of this study was to investigate the transmission route of this parasite and its geographical distribution as well as to describe its morphology as observed by light and confocal imaging. Phalloidin labeling confirmed the presence of 2 prostatic reservoirs and showed muscular branches of fibers supporting haptoral sclerites. In arapaimas, the head connects to the gill chambers via 2 perforated scales located at the dorsolateral sides of the distal part of the head. The scales connect to thin channels and chambers situated in the proximal part of the head. These chambers are filled with cephalic mucus, which flows out to the environment through terminal pores. Adults and egg masses of monogeneans were found on the gills and inside the head pores and cavities of fish along with cephalic mucus. This indicates a specialized method of parasite transmission from adult fish to fingerlings during parental care (holding offspring in the mouth) or via head secretions, providing evidence of a new adapted mechanism of dispersion. 2030-01-01