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

Abstract

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.

Higher parasite richness, abundance and impact in native versus introduced cichlid fishes

“…These possible consequences need to be explored. At one level we found that, despite the transfer of native parasites to the introduced host (see also Jiménez-García et al, 2001), the native V. maculicauda harboured more than twice the number of parasite species compared with the introduced O. niloticus, both in the overall sampled population and at the scale of individual hosts. Thus, the introduced host still experienced a net benefit in terms of lower parasite species richness compared with the native host.…”

Parasites of native Cichlidae populations and invasive Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in tributary of Amazonas River (Brazil)

“…Monogenoideans are parasites with direct life cycle and resistant to elimination when translocated (PÉREZ-PONCE DE LEÓN et al, 2000). Thus, species of the genus Cichlidogyrus translocated with O. niloticus colonized species of endemic cichlids of Mexico (JIMÉNEZ-GARCÍA et al, 2001) and Panama (ROCHE et al, 2010), due to its relative parasite specificity. In contrast, C. tilapiae, the only species of helminth parasitizing this invasive fish in the region of this study, was not competent to invade any of the 16 species of native cichlids, fish ecologically similar.…”

“…Thus, the results of this fish introduction in Brazilian fish farms do not reflect what occurs in the natural environment; it indicates loss of monogenoideans species with the translocation of this tilapia from other regions of Brazil to the studied area. Therefore, the acquisition and transmission of exotic parasites depend on a complex set of factors, including biological aspects of host and parasite, host-parasite interaction and scalespace (JIMÉNEZ-GARCÍA et al, 2001;ROCHE et al, 2010;GENDRON et al, 2012;PATERSON et al, 2012).…”

“…The transmission of exotic parasites depends, primarily, on biological factors, host-parasite interaction, congeniality of host species and parasite specificity (JIMÉNEZ-GARCÍA et al, 2001;GALLI et al, 2005;ROCHE et al, 2010;RIBEIRO;LEUNDA, 2012). Thus, the intensity and type of native parasites (ectoparasites and endoparasites) acquired vary among different invasive exotic hosts (PATERSON et al, 2012).…”

Monogéneos parásitos de Oreochromis spp., en punto de venta

“…Fuera de su lugar de origen, es señalada como especie introducida y como toda especie, tiene sus propios helmintos parásitos y en los diferentes sitios de cultivo, han registrado la presencia de estos, tanto en condiciones de encierro como en vida libre (Jiménez-García et al, 2001; Zonolo et al, …”