Disease of Aquatic Organisms 91:137 (original) (raw)

Microsporidian parasites: a danger facing marine fishes of the Red Sea

Parasitology Research, 2011

Out of 600 marine fish from the Red Sea belonging to three different species that were collected and examined for microsporidian parasites, 87 (14.5%) fish were found to be infected. The infection was recorded as cysts or xenomas embedded in the gut epithelium and the peritoneal cavity of the three fish species. The highest percent of infection with microsporidian parasites was recorded in Saurida tumbil 19.5% (39/200) followed by Pagrus pagrus 15% (45/300) and the lowest percent of infection was recorded in Epinephelus chlorostigma 3% (three out of 100). After rupture of the cysts, the spores were released and examined by light microscopy. Each spore was elongated to ellipsoidal in shape and possessed a posterior vacuole which is characteristic to phylum Microspora. They measure 1.6± 0.5 μm (1.5-2.4 μm)×1.3±0.1 μm (1.3-2.0 μm) in Saurida tumbil and Pagrus pagrus, respectively. The spores of Pleistophora sp recorded from E. chlorostigma were ovoid to pyriform in shape and measure 1.9±0.5 μm (1.8-2.7 μm)×1.6±0.4 μm (1.5-2.4 μm).

ARE EXOTIC AND NATIVE FISH SWITCHED THEIR DIGENEAN PARASITES? THE CASE OF HERBIVOROUS FISHES IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Despite their potential ecological and environmental effects, parasites of exotic fish remain an underestimated component of ecosystem functioning. Among these parasites, Digenea have the most complex life cycles that make them difficult to be introduced. In the Gulf of Gabes (Central Mediterranean Sea), four herbivorous fish are present: two native Sarpa salpa and Sparisoma cretense and two lessepsian Siganus rivulatus and Siganus luridus. These fishes are assumed to have feeding analogies that increase the possibility to be infested by the same digenean species. Comparative parasitological studies of these fishes in sympatric sites are crucial to understand parasite circulation. Thirteen S. rivulatus, 33 S. luridus, 30 S. cretense and 20 S. salpa were studied for their digenean parasites. The two lessepsian S. rivulatus and S. luridus have the same and only parasite Aponorus sigani. Sparisoma cretense has only one species Schikhobalotrema sparisomae and S. salpa is parasitised with 6 species Centroderma spinosissima, Mesometra orbicularis, Mesometra brachycoelia, Wardula capitellata, Lepocreadium pegorchis, Robphildollfusium fractum. No parasites switching between these herbivorous fish were observed. Absence of intermediate host and phylogenetic barrier may prevent transfer of parasite. The introduced species was considerably less parasitised than those from native locality (10 species were reported from S. rivulatus and S. luridus of Red Sea and only one species from Mediterranean Sea). A. sigani is a co-introduced parasite established with its host and its intermediate host in Mediterranean Sea.

Geographical variation in metazoan parasites of the deep-sea fish Bathypterois mediterraneus Bauchot, 1962 (Osteichthyes: Ipnopidae) from the Western Mediterranean

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 2014

This study examines the parasite fauna of Bathypterois mediterraneus, the most common fish below 1500 m in Western Mediterranean waters. Samples were obtained during July 2010 from the continental slope of two different areas (off Catalonia and Balearic Islands) in three different bathymetric strata at depths between 1000 and 2200 m. The parasite fauna of B. mediterraneus included a narrow range of species: Steringophorus cf. dorsolineatum, Scolex pleuronectis, Hysterothylacium aduncum, Anisakis sp. larva 3 type II and Sarcotretes sp. Steringophorus cf. dorsolineatum and H. aduncum were the most predominant parasites. H. aduncum showed significant differences in abundance between depths of 2000-2200 m with 1000-1400 m and 1400-2000 m, irrespective of locality, whereas S. cf. dorsolineatum showed significant differences between the two localities at all depths except for 2000-2200 m. We suggest the possible usefulness of these two parasites as geographical indicators for discriminating discrete stocks of B. mediterraneus in Western Mediterranean waters.

Metazoan parasite infection in the swordfish,Xiphias gladius, from the Mediterranean Sea and comparison with Atlantic populations: implications for its stock characterization

Parasite, 2014

Thirteen parasite taxa were identified in the Mediterranean swordfish by morphological and genetic/molecular methods. The comparison of the identified parasite taxa and parasitic infection values observed in the Mediterranean swordfish showed statistically significant differences with respect to those reported for its Atlantic populations. A stepwise Linear Discriminant Analysis of the individual fish examined showed a separation among three groups: one including fish from the Mediterranean Sea (CTS, STS, and IOS); one consisting of fish from the Central South (CS), Eastern Tropical (ET), and Equatorial (TEQ) Atlantic; and a third comprising the fish sampled from the NorthWest Atlantic (NW); the CN Atlantic sample was more similar to the first group rather than to the other Atlantic ones. The nematodes Hysterothylacium petteri and Anisakis pegreffii were the species that contributed most to the characterization of the Mediterranean swordfish samples with respect to these Atlantic ones. Anisakis brevispiculata, A. physeteris, A. paggiae, Anisakis sp. 2, Hysterothylacium incurvum, Hepatoxylon trichiuri, Sphyriocephalus viridis, and their high infection levels were associated with the swordfish from the Central and the Southern Atlantic areas. Finally, H. corrugatum, A. simplex (s.s.), Rhadinorhynchus pristis, and Bolbosoma vasculosum were related to the fish from the NorthWest (NW) Atlantic area. These results indicate that some parasites, particularly Anisakis spp. larvae identified by genetic markers, could be used as ''biological tags'' and support the existence of a Mediterranean swordfish stock.

Larval cestodes infecting commercial fish of Alexandria coast along the Mediterranean Sea: morphology and phylogeny

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária

Members of the order Trypanorhyncha are cestode parasites that are frequently found infecting the muscles of several marine fish species, affecting fish health and resulting in consumers’ rejection. Seventy–five specimens of marine fish were freshly caught from boat landing sites at the Alexandria coast along the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, including two Carangids, the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili and the gulley jack Pseudocarans dentex; two Serranids, the Haifa grouper Epinephelus haifensis and the mottled grouper Mycteroperca rubra. Forty-five fish were infected; the infection was recorded as blastocysts embedded in fish flesh. Blastocysts were isolated and ruptured; the generated plerocerci were described morphologically, where, four different species were recovered; Callitetrarhynchus gracilis, Callitetrarhynchus speciosus, Protogrillotia zerbiae, and Grillotia brayi. The taxonomic position of these parasites was justified by multiple-sequence alignment and a phylogenetic ...

Parasite communities in two sparid fishes from the western Mediterranean: a comparative analysis based on samples from three localities off the Algerian coast

Helminthologia, 2017

Summary We provide the first known comparative assessment of metazoan parasite communities in two taxonomically and ecologically related sparids, Boops boops and Spicara maena, that are common in the coastal infralittoral habitats in the Mediterranean. Using abundant data for infracommunities in three localities off the Algerian coasts of the Mediterranean, we tested the general prediction that the phylogenetic proximity of the two hosts, their overlapping geographical distribution and habitat occupation, as well as the similar feeding habits and diet would contribute to a homogenization of their parasite community composition and structure. The regional fauna of parasites of B. boops and S. maena along the Algerian coasts of the western Mediterranean was species-rich (36 species) and dominated by heteroxenous species (27 spp; of these 20 digenean spp.). The phylogenetic relatedness between the two hosts resulted in a large number of shared parasites (56 %, 20 spp.). However, the si...

Metazoan parasites of fish species from Lake Gala (Edirne, Turkey)

Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2014

A total of 366 specimens of 10 fish species inhabiting Lake Sığırcı were examined between April 2009 and February 2010. Inside or outside of these fish, 33 parasite species were identified. From these parasites, 18 monogenean, 5 digenean trematode, 3 cestode, 3 acanthocephalan, 3 nematode, and 1 Mollusca: Bivalvia (glochidia) species were recorded. Diplostomum spp., Tylodelphys clavata, glochidia-larvae, and monogenean species were found to be common parasites in all the fish species examined. The highest prevalence and mean infection intensity with Diplostomum spp. were found in Lepomis gibbosus (prevalence 91.6%, mean intensity 5.6 individuals per fish) and in Scardinius erythrophthalmus (prevalence 88.0%, mean intensity 73.0 individuals); Tylodelphys clavata occurred with the highest prevalence (98.2%) and mean infection intensity (181.3 individuals) in Perca fluviatilis. Carassius gibelio exhibited rich monogenean biodiversity, with 6 species.