Monogeneans in Introduced and Native Cichlids in México: Evidence for Transfer

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 87; no. 4; pp. 907 - 909
• Main Authors: Jiménez-García, M. I, Vidal-Martínez, V. M, López-Jiménez, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS American Society of Parasitologists 01.08.2001
• Subjects: Africa - epidemiology; Animal and plant ecology; Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Fish; Fish culture; Fish Diseases - epidemiology; Freshwater fishes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Helminthiasis, Animal - epidemiology; Introduced species; Lagoons; Mexico - epidemiology; Parasite hosts; Parasites; Parasitism; Parasitology; Perches - parasitology; Pisciculture; Platyhelminths - classification; RESEARCH NOTES; Synecology; Tilapia; Vertebrate aquaculture; Central America; Mexico; America; Africa; Brackish water environment; Host parasite relation; Introduced species; Monogenea; Prevalence; Interspecific comparison; Plathelmintha; Cichlidae; First record; Host; Coastal lagoon; Freshwater environment; Breeding pond; Vertebrata; Pisces; Helmintha; Lakes; Parasitism rate; Invertebrata; Aquaculture
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2001)087[0907:MIIANC]2.0.CO;2

We examined 2 cichlid fish species native to México, Cichlasoma callolepis and C. fenestratum, and 2 introduced African cichlids, Oreochromis aureus and O. niloticus, from 3 localities in southeastern México for monogeneans. Six monogenean species infected the African cichlids: Cichlidogyrus haplochromii, C. dossoui, C. longicornis longicornis, C. sclerosus, C. tilapiae, and Enterogyrus malmbergi. We found all these parasite species, except C. haplochromii and C. dossoui, on the native C. fenestratum and C. callolepis. Prevalences of Cichlidogyrus spp. were 3–10% and abundances ranged from 0.03 ± 0.2 to 0.1 ± 0.3 for native cichlids. We only recovered a single E. malmbergi from 1 C. callolepis. We found Sciadicleithrum bravohollisae, a monogenean of native Cichlasoma spp., on the gills of the introduced O. aureus from Lake Catemaco (prevalence 3%, abundance 0.03 ± 0.2). Although prevalence and abundance in atypical hosts were fairly low, the present findings provide evidence of monogenean transfer from African to American cichlids and vice versa. This is the first record of exotic monogeneans in the genus Cichlidogyrus and Enterogyrus infecting native American cichlid fish. It is also the first record from southeastern México of a native American monogenean infecting introduced African cichlids.