Parasitic infections in ornamental cichlid fish in the Peruvian Amazon

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 82 - 86
• Main Authors: Aguinaga, Jefferson Yunis, Marcusso, Paulo Fernandes, Claudiano, Gustavo da Silva, Lima, Bruno Tadeu Marotta, Marotta, Bruno L, Sebastião, Fernanda de Alexandre, Fernandes, João Batista Kochenborger, de Moraes, Flávio Ruas, de Moraes, Julieta Rodini Engracia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01.01.2015; Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Subjects: Amazon; Animals; Cichlid; Cichlids - parasitology; Fish Diseases - epidemiology; Fish Diseases - parasitology; Ornamental fish; parasites; Parasitic Diseases, Animal - epidemiology; PARASITOLOGY; Peru - epidemiology; Seasons; VETERINARY SCIENCES; Ornamental fish; parasitas; Amazônia; Cichlidae; parasites; Amazon; Cichlid; Peixes ornamentais
• ISSN: 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612014076

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and seasonal distribution of the main parasite species in Amazonian ornamental cichlids that affect their trade. The study was conducted from August 2007 to September 2009. We sampled 3042 specimens from 9 different species, of which 9.47% had at least one type of external parasite. 81.25% of the cases occurred in the dry season. Crenicichla anthurus (28.57%) was the most parasitized, followed by Aequidens diadema (26.32%), Pterophyllum scalare (22.69%), Cichlasoma sp. (9.52%), Apistogramma sp. (3.88%) and Symphysodon aequifasciatus (3.66%). Monogenea was the most abundant group of parasites, occurring in 66.67% of the cases, of which 96.88% occurred in the dry season. This parasite infested 95.68% of Pterophyllum scalare, 76.67% of Apistogramma sp, 33.33% of Cichlasoma sp. and 23.81% of Symphysodon aequifasciatus cases. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis infested 100% of Aequidens diadema, 76.19% of Symphysodon aequifasciatus, 66.67% of Cichlasoma sp, 41.67% of Crenicichla anthurus and 23.33% of Apistogramma sp cases. Myxosporidia infested 58.33% of Crenicichla anthurus. Trichodina infested 4.32% of Pterophyllum scalare. The prevalence of these parasites is related to the season, preferred habitat, fish behavior, individual susceptibility and handling of animals during transportation by fishermen.