Parasitic infections in the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (Teleostei: Belonidae) off Tunisian coast

Châari, Manel; Neifar, Lassad

doi:10.12980/jclm.3.2015j5-78

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Of all these parasite species, only one was shared with the invasive fish host, the presumably native isopod Gnathia sp.. As only larval stages of gnathiid parasite can infect fish and all larvae are morphologically very similar, identification to species level was not possible. Native Gnathia species have been reported from the study area ( Châari & Neifar, 2015 ) and we assume that the species found in our study is native but without further genetic work the native-invasive status in the invader cannot be fully clarified. Interestingly, none of the parasites that were co-introduced with the Lessepsian migrant has been found to infect the native congeneric host species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…However, further studies will be needed to ascertain the native status of Caligus individuals found on the invasive host. Annelids of the family Piscicolidae are considered to be generalists with a broad host specificity and are regularly reported from many native fish hosts from Tunisian coasts and the Mediterranean Sea in general ( Châari & Neifar, 2015 ). According to the literature, no gnathiids were reported previously from S. chrysoteania in the Red Sea.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lessepsian migration and parasitism: richness, prevalence and intensity of parasites in the invasive fishSphyraena chrysotaeniacompared to its native congenerSphyraena sphyraenain Tunisian coastal waters

Boussellaa

Neifar

Goedknegt

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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BackgroundParasites can play various roles in the invasion of non-native species, but these are still understudied in marine ecosystems. This also applies to invasions from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, the so-called Lessepsian migration. In this study, we investigated the role of parasites in the invasion of the Lessepsian migrant Sphyraena chrysotaenia in the Tunisian Mediterranean Sea.MethodsWe compared metazoan parasite richness, prevalence and intensity of S. chrysotaenia (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae) with infections in its native congener Sphyraena sphyraena by sampling these fish species at seven locations along the Tunisian coast. Additionally, we reviewed the literature to identify native and invasive parasite species recorded in these two hosts.ResultsOur results suggest the loss of at least two parasite species of the invasive fish. At the same time, the Lessepsian migrant has co-introduced three parasite species during the initial migration to the Mediterranean Sea, that are assumed to originate from the Red Sea of which only one parasite species has been reported during the spread to Tunisian waters. In addition, we found that the invasive fish has acquired six parasite species that are native in the Mediterranean Sea. However, parasite richness, prevalence and intensity were overall much lower in the invasive compared to the native fish host in the Mediterranean Sea.DiscussionThese results suggest that the Lessepsian migrant may affect native fish hosts by potentially altering the dynamics of native and invasive parasite-host interactions via parasite release, parasite co-introduction and parasite acquisition. They further suggest that the lower infection levels in the invasive fish may result in a competitive advantage over native fish hosts (enemy release hypothesis). This study demonstrates that cross-species comparisons of parasite infection levels are a valuable tool to identify the different roles of parasites in the course of Lessepsian migrations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessepsian migration and parasitism: richness, prevalence and intensity of parasites in the invasive fishSphyraena chrysotaeniacompared to its native congenerSphyraena sphyraenain Tunisian coastal waters

Boussellaa

Neifar

Goedknegt

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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“…Of all these parasite species, only one was shared with the invasive fish host, the presumably native isopod Gnathia sp.. As only larval stages of gnathiid parasite can infect fish and all larvae are morphologically very similar, identification to species level was not possible. Native Gnathia species have been reported from the study area (Châari & Neifar, 2015) and we assume that the species found in our study is native but without PeerJ reviewing PDF | (2018:02:25527:2:1:NEW 23 Jul 2018)…”

Section: Cross-species Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 75%

Peer Review #1 of "Lessepsian migration and parasitism: richness, prevalence and intensity of parasites in the invasive fish Sphyraena chrysotaenia compared to its native congener Sphyraena sphyraena in Tunisian coastal waters (v0.1)"

2018

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Background Parasites can play various roles in the invasion of non-native species, but these are still understudied in marine ecosystems. This also applies to invasions from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, the so-called Lessepsian migration. In this study, we investigated the role of parasites in the invasion of the Lessepsian migrant Sphyraena chrysotaenia in the Tunisian Mediterranean Sea. Methods We compared metazoan parasite richness, prevalence and intensity of S. chrysotaenia (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae) with infections in its native congener S. sphyraena by sampling these fish species at seven locations along the Tunisian coast. Additionally, we reviewed the literature to identify native and invasive parasite species recorded in these two hosts. Results Our results suggest the loss of at least two parasite species of the invasive fish species. At the same time, the Lessepsian migrant has co-introduced three parasite species, during the initial migration to the Mediterranean Sea, that are assumed to originate from the Red Sea of which only one parasite species has been reported during the spread to Tunisian waters. In addition, we found that the invasive fish has acquired six parasite species that are native in the Mediterranean Sea. However, parasite richness, prevalence and intensity were overall much lower in the invasive compared to the native fish host in the Mediterranean Sea. Discussion These results suggest that the Lessepsian migrant may affect native fish hosts by potentially altering the dynamics of native and invasive parasite-host interactions via parasite release, parasite co-introduction and parasite acquisition. They further suggest that the lower infection levels in the invasive fish may result in a competitive advantage over native fish hosts (enemy release hypothesis). This study demonstrates that cross-species comparisons of parasite infection levels are a valuable tool to identify the different roles of parasites in the course of Lessepsian migrations.

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“…in any species of fish. The few studies that evaluate the presence of parasites of the digenea subclass focus on intestinal parasites and not ectoparasites, and therefore the data are not comparable [46,47]. With these results, it is evident that the high prevalence of Scaphanocephalus sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune and Oxidative Stress Response of the Fish Xyrichthys novacula Infected with the Trematode Ectoparasite Scaphanocephalus sp. in the Balearic Islands

Cohen-Sánchez,

Sánchez-Mairata,

Valencia

et al. 2023

Fishes

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Global change produces substantial modification to the distribution and rhythm of infection of diseases in fish, favouring the introduction of new pathogens. Recently, the presence of black spot disease, associated with a digenean fluke of the genus Scaphanocephalus, has been observed in specimens of Xyrichthys novacula on the island of Ibiza (Balearic Islands). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and immune response in both the skin mucus and spleen of X. novacula depending on the degree of infection by Scaphanocephalus sp. The specimens were captured in a control area, without the presence of the parasite, and in an affected area, classifying the fish as low infection (1–15 spots) and high infection (>15 spots). As the degree of infection increased, a decrease in the body condition index was observed. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes in the mucus—catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase—increased progressively with the degree of infection. This activation of antioxidant defences was not enough to prevent an increase in malondialdehyde levels, an indicator of oxidative damage, in the group with the highest infection. Similarly, an increase in immunological parameters—lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, myeloperoxidase and immunoglobulins—was observed in mucus as infection increased. Regarding the spleen, only an increase in lysozyme activity and alkaline phosphatase in fish with a greater severity of infection was observed. In conclusion, as the severity of Scaphanocephalus sp. infection increased, it induced an immune and oxidative stress response in skin mucus, leading to a decrease in overall body condition. The potential health effects that the ectoparasite may have on X. novacula populations will require follow-up studies.

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Parasitic infections in the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (Teleostei: Belonidae) off Tunisian coast

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

Lessepsian migration and parasitism: richness, prevalence and intensity of parasites in the invasive fishSphyraena chrysotaeniacompared to its native congenerSphyraena sphyraenain Tunisian coastal waters

Lessepsian migration and parasitism: richness, prevalence and intensity of parasites in the invasive fishSphyraena chrysotaeniacompared to its native congenerSphyraena sphyraenain Tunisian coastal waters

Peer Review #1 of "Lessepsian migration and parasitism: richness, prevalence and intensity of parasites in the invasive fish Sphyraena chrysotaenia compared to its native congener Sphyraena sphyraena in Tunisian coastal waters (v0.1)"

Immune and Oxidative Stress Response of the Fish Xyrichthys novacula Infected with the Trematode Ectoparasite Scaphanocephalus sp. in the Balearic Islands

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