Update on the distribution of the co-invasiveSchyzocotyle acheilognathi(=Bothriocephalus acheilognathi), the Asian fish tapeworm, in freshwater fishes of Mexico

Abstract

The Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (syn. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) represents a threat to freshwater fish, mainly cyprinids, across the globe. This tapeworm possesses an extraordinary ability to adapt to different environmental conditions and, because of that, from its natural geographical origin in mainland Asia, it has colonized every continent except Antarctica. It is thought that this pathogenic tapeworm was first co-introduced into Mexico in 1965 from China, with the grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, although the first formal record of its presence was published in 1981. Over the past 35 years, the Asian fish tapeworm has invaded about 22% of the freshwater fish in Mexico. Because fish communities in Mexico are characterized by high species richness and levels of endemism, S. acheilognathi is considered as a co-introduced and co-invasive species. In this review, we update the geographic distribution and host spectrum of the Asian fish tapeworm in Mexico. Up until December 2016, the tapeworm had been recorded in 110 freshwater fish species (96 native and 14 introduced), included in 51 genera, 11 families and 4 orders; it was also widely distributed in all types of aquatic environments, and has been found in 214 localities. We present novel data from a survey aimed at establishing the distribution pattern of the tapeworm in native freshwater fishes of two rivers in north-central Mexico, and the genetic variation among individuals of this co-invasive species collected from different host species and localities. We discuss briefly the factors that have determined the remarkable invasive success of this parasite in freshwater systems in Mexico.

The macroparasite fauna of cichlid fish from Nicaraguan lakes, a model system for understanding host–parasite diversification and speciation

“…This parasite was likely introduced into the Panama Canal area with the stocking of grass carps Ctenopharyngodon idella for the control of aquatic vegetation. Although no carp introduction has been reported in the Nicaraguan lakes, the Asian tapeworm was already reported in Nicaraguan poeciliids 67 . However, Ref.…”

Caryophyllidean tapeworms (Cestoda), Nearctic parasites of fish in Mexico, including description of a new species of Isoglaridacris and the first report of Khawia japonensis, an invasive parasite of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

“…Instead, in the Nearctic part of Mexico, several species of proteocephalids (Onchoproteocephalidea) occur in freshwater fish, especially members of the newly erected subfamily Essexiellinae (formerly placed in the Corallobothriinae – see Hoffman, 1999 ) in ictalurid catfishes (Siluriformes) ( Scholz et al, 2020 ), whereas bothriocephalideans are represented by just a few species, especially the invasive Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi ( Yamaguti, 1934 ) (syn. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi ) ( Kuchta et al, 2018 ; Pérez-Ponce de León et al, 2018 ).…”

Helminth parasites of alien freshwater fishes in Patagonia (Argentina)

“…Asian carp have been reported in lakes from Buenos Aires Province since 1925 ( Rosso, 2006 ), but reached Patagonian environments only recently, about 25 years ago ( Peréz and López Cazorla, 2008 ). This parasite has the potential to be transferred to other fish species, thus becoming a potential threat to native freshwater fish species ( Salgado–Maldonado and Pineda–López, 2003 ; Pérez–Ponce de Leon et al, 2017 ). In Argentina S. achilognathi is distributed in the rivers Neuquén, Limay and Negro, which constitute the southernmost limit of the known distribution of this parasite on the American Continent.…”