Cysts and larvae of Strongyluris: A parasite of amphibians and reptiles found in an urban population of Lissachatina fulica (Férussac, 1821) in southern Brazil.

We report the finding of cysts and larvae of Strongyluris in specimens of L. fulica from an urban area of the municipality of Maringá in northern Paraná State, southern Brazil. Thirty-seven young adult snails were collected at three sites: 15 in riparian forest; 14 in a vegetable garden; and eight in a residential garden. We found a total of 16 cysts with nematode larvae in three of the 15 snails collected in riparian forest. The parasites were identified as larvae of the genus Strongyluris, which are parasites of the gastrointestinal tract of amphibians and reptiles. Lissachatina fulica is established in urban areas of 33% of the municipalities of the state of Paraná. The species has spread rapidly through the urban area of the municipality of Maringá, which may contribute to the transmission of nematode larvae of medical and veterinary interest to humans and other animals.

Parasitism by larval tapeworms genus Spirometra in South American amphibians and reptiles: new records from Brazil and Uruguay, and a review of current knowledge in the region.

Spargana are plerocercoid larvae of cestode tapeworms of the genus Spirometra, Family Diphyllobothriidae, parasitic to frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals. This parasitic disease in humans can be transmitted through the use and consumption of amphibians and reptiles. The available knowledge about Spirometra in South America is scarce, and there are only a few reports on the occurrence of sparganum in amphibians and reptiles, many of them published in old papers not easily available to researchers. In this work we present a review on this topic, provide new records in two species of amphibians and 7 species of reptiles from Brazil and Uruguay respectively. We also summarize current knowledge of Spirometra in the continent, along with an updated of host taxonomy. We could gather from the literature a total of 15 studies about amphibian and reptile hosts, published between 1850 and 2016, corresponding to 43 case reports, mostly from Brazil (29) and Uruguay (8), Argentina (3), Peru (2), and Venezuela (1); the majority of them related to reptiles (five lizards and 26 snake species), and 14 corresponded to amphibians (9 anurans). Plerocercoid larvae were located in different organs of the hosts, such as subcutaneous tissue, coelomic cavity, peritoneum, and musculature. The importance of amphibians and reptiles in the transmission of the disease to humans in South America is discussed. Relevant issues to be studied in the near future are the taxonomic characterization of Spirometra in the region and the biological risk of reptile meat for aboriginal and other rural communities.

Parasites of the freshwater fish trade in Brazil: science metric study / Parasitas de peixes de cultivo e de interesse comercial do Brasil: estudo cienciométrico

This paper presents a science metric study of parasites of fish farming in Brazil, including a significant review of the literature. The methodology used was based on researching articles in three different databases, carried out ​on May 2012: ISI (Institute for Scientific Information), SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), and Google Academic. The number of articles on fish parasites is mounting (currently over 110), having much increased since 1995. However, the quantity is still low compared with the amount of papers on parasites of fish from natural environments. In Brazil, the farmed fish that have been studied the most are pacu, tilapia and tambaqui. Monogeneans represent the most prevalent group, followed by protozoa and crustaceans. The regions most researched were the southeast and south, making up 84% of the total literature. The main issue addressed in articles was pathology, followed by treatment and record. In conclusion, the treatment of parasitic diseases of farmed fish in Brazil is still incipient, highlighting the importance and usefulness of management practices to prevent the occurrence of health problems.

Este trabalho apresenta o estudo cienciométrico dos parasitos de peixes de cultivo do Brasil, incluindo significativa revisão da literatura. A metodologia adotada se baseou na pesquisa dos artigos feita no mês de maio de 2012 em três bancos de dados: ISI (Institute for Scientific Information), SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online) e Google Acadêmico. O número de artigos sobre parasitos de peixes cultivados está aumentando (autalmente mais de 110), havendo um crescimento a partir de 1995. Entretanto o número ainda é baixo se comparado ao número de artigos de parasitos de peixes de ambientes naturais. No Brasil, os peixes de cultivo mais estudados são pacu, tilápia e tambaqui. Os monogenéticos foram os grupos mais prevalente, seguido de protozoários e crustáceos. As regiões mais pesquisadass foram o sudeste e sul, perfazendo 84% da produção bibliográfica total. O principal assunto abordado nos artigos foi patologia, seguido por tratamento e registro. Conclui-se que os tratamentos das parasitoses de peixes de piscicultura no Brasil ainda são incipientes, ressaltando a importância e utilidade das boas práticas de manejo para evitar o aparecimento de problemas sanitários.

Parasites of the fish Cichla piquiti (Cichlidae) in native and invaded Brazilian basins: release not from the enemy, but from its effects.

The enemy release hypothesis is frequently used to explain the success of invaders, postulating that introduced species have escaped from their native enemies, including parasites. Here, we tested this hypothesis for the tucunaré (Cichla piquiti), a predatory cichlid, and its endoparasites. First, the parasites and their influence on the condition of the hosts in the native environment, the Tocantins River (TO), were compared to an environment where the fish was introduced, the Paraná River (PR). Then, comparisons of the abundances of Diplostomidae eye flukes and Contracaecum sp. larval nematodes were made between the introduced tucunaré and two predators native to the PR, Hoplias malabaricus and Raphiodon vulpinus. Nine species of endoparasites were recorded in total, five of which occurring in both localities. Total species richness did not differ between localities, and fish condition was negatively affected by the cestodes Sciadocephalus megalodiscus only in the TO. In the PR, abundance of Contracaecum sp. did not differ between natives and invaders; however, eye flukes were more abundant in the native fish H. malabaricus, which may represent an advantage to the invader if they were competing for prey. These results did not support the idea that the escape from parasites favoured the establishment of C. piquiti in the PR. Instead, the escape from the parasites' effects seems a better explanation, and further studies examining effects on host physiology and/or fitness in the native and introduced ranges are needed.

Parasitism influence on the hepato, splenosomatic and weight/length relation and relative condition factor of Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Prochilodontidae) of the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil.

One hundred and forty-nine specimens of Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) were collected on the Upper Paraná River floodplain (Brazil) from February 2000 to June 2001. Both parasitized and unparasitized fish showed alometric growth. The parasitized fish presented relative condition factor (Kn) values that were significantly higher than those of the unparasitized fish. In the age classes with unparasitized fish, the mean relative condition factor was always lower. Starting from two years of age, the Kn values were higher in the parasitized hosts. The monogenean Rhinonastes pseudocapsaloideum, the copepod Gamispatulus sp. and the digenean Saccocoelioides magnorchis presented significant positive correlation between their abundance and the relative condition factor of the host. No species presented correlation between abundance and the hepatosomatic relation. The acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus curemai presented positive correlation and the metacercariae Tylodelphys sp. presented negative correlation between the splenosomatic relation and abundance of parasitism.

Nomimoscolex pertierrae n. sp. (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidea), a parasite of Pseudoplatystoma corruscans (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in Brazil and redescription of N. sudobim Woodland, 1935, a parasite of P. fasciatum.

The cestode Nomimoscolex sudobim Woodland, 1935 (Proteocephalidea) is redescribed on the basis of its type-specimens and recently collected material found in the intestine of the 'sudobim' Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) (type-host), from the Amazon River (near the type-locality). Nomimoscolex pertierrae n. sp. is described from the 'surubi' Pseudoplatystoma corruscans from the Paraná River around Porto Rico. Among fifteen known Nomimoscolex species, only N. sudobim possess a cortical uterus in combination with osmoregulatory canals some distance internal to the proglottis margins, as in N. pertierrae n. sp. N. pertierrae differs from N. sudobim, which exhibits the most similarity with the former species, in the morphology of the scolex, the size and unusual shape of microtriches (slender digitiform) on the internal and marginal regions of the suckers, and in the lower mean number of testes [(114 in N. pertierrae, ranging between 216 (recently collected material) and 240 (type-material) in N. sudobim)]. The material described as N. sudobim by Pavanelli & Rego (1992) from the intestine of P. corruscans is considered to be N. pertierrae. The utility of microtriches as characters for distinguishing between species is demonstrated in the clear differences in the shape of those of N. pertierrae and N. sudobim. The morphology of microtriches warrants more attention in future studies on the taxonomy of proteocephalidean cestodes.

New species of Tereancistrum Kritsky, Thatcher & Kayton, 1980 (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae: Ancyrocephalinae) from the gills of Prochilodus lineatus (Osteichthyes: Prochilodontidae) from the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil.

Two new species of Tereancistrum Kritsky, Thatcher & Kayton, 1980 are described from the gills of Prochilodus lineatus (Prochilodontidae) collected from the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil. T. toksonum n. sp. is characterised by a slim ventral bar with a sclerotised membrane along the anterior margin. Another characteristic is the dorsal anchor with an elongated deep root. T. curimba n. sp. is similar to T. ornatus Kritsky, Thatcher & Kayton, 1980 but possesses a sclerotised structure between the accessory sclerites of the ventral anchors. Moreover, the accessory anchor sclerites of this new species are longer than those described for T. ornatus.

Dactylogyridae (Monogenea) from the gills of Iheringichthys labrosus (Osteichthyes: Pimelodidae) from the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil, with the proposal of Pseudovancleaveus n. g.

Two new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 and a new genus, Pseudovancleaveus, and species are described from the gills of Iheringichthys labrosus (Pimelodidae). The fishes were collected from the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil. D. mandi n. sp. is characterised by the distal region of the copulatoty organ having an expanded bulb and D. labrosi n. sp. by the copulatory organ having a funnel-shaped proximal extremity. The latter species also has an accessory piece comprising a variable sheath enclosing the distal shaft of the copulatory organ and two anterolateral structures resembling irregular spheres. Pseudovancleaveus paranaensis. n. g., n. sp. is characterised by a sinistral vagina, overlapping gonads, a copulatory ligament, anchors without a fold on the base and hooks with slightly inflated shanks. A new combination, Pseudovancleaveus platensis, is proposed for Vancleaveus platensis Suriano & Incorvaia, 1995.

A new species of Kritskyia (Dactylogyridae, Ancyrocephalinae) parasite of urinary bladder of Prochilodus lineatus (Prochilodontidae, Characiformes) from the Floodplain of the High Paraná river, Brazil.

A new species of Kritskyia inhabits the urinary bladder of the "curimba", Prochilodus lineatus in the floodplain of the high Paraná river. The new species resembles others members of Kritskyia in the following features: haptor lacking anchors and with 14 hooks marginal, posterior male copulatory organ non articulated with the accessory piece and vagina a sclerotized tube. However, it differs from the known species mainly by the shape of the copulatory complex. This is the third endoparasitic monogenean species reported from freshwater Neotropical fish.

A New Species of Kritskyia (Dactylogyridae, Ancyrocephalinae) Parasite of Urinary Bladder of Prochilodus lineatus (Prochilodontidae, Characiformes) from the Floodplain of the High Paraná River, Brazil

A new species of Kritskyia inhabits the urinary bladder of the "curimba", Prochilodus lineatus in the floodplain of the high Paraná river. The new species resembles others members of Kritskyia in the following features: haptor lacking anchors and with 14 hooks marginal, posterior male copulatory organ non articulated with the accessory piece and vagina a sclerotized tube. However, it differs from the known species mainly by the shape of the copulatory complex. This is the third endoparasitic monogenean species reported from freshwater Neotropical fish

Spasskyellina mandi n.sp. (Proteocephalidea: Monticelliidae), parasite of Pimelodus ornatus Kner, 1857 (Pisces: Pimelodidae) of the Parana river, Parana, Brazil

Spasskyellina mandi n. sp. (Proteocephalidea: Monticelliidae) is decribed from the Siluriform fish pimelodus ornatus Kner, 1857, caught in the Parana river, Parana, Brazil. The new species differs from other species of the same genus mainly by a fewer number of testes and by a larger osmoregulatory canal. This is the second species of proteocephalidean cestode collected in P. ornatus.

Neotropical Monogenoidea. 24. Rhinoxenus bulbovaginatus n. sp. (Dactylogyridae, Ancyrocephalinae) from the nasal cavity of Salminus maxillosus (Osteichthyes, Characidae) from the rio Paraná, Paraná, Brazil

Rhinoxenus bulbovaginatus n. sp. is described from the nose of Salminus maxillosus (Characidae) collected in the basin of the rio Paraná, near the city of Porto Rico, state of Paraná, Brazil. The new species can be differentiated from the other three species in the genus by the morphology of the copulatory complex, vagina, and ventral anchor. The sister group relationship of the known species of Rhinoxenus was determined using techniques of Phylogenetic Systematics (Cladism). The resulting cladogram (C.I.=100 por cento) indicates that the new species is most closely related to R. piranhus Kritsky, Boeger and Thatcher, 1988. The other two species of the genus, R. arietinus Kritsky, Boeger and Thatcher, 1988 and R. nyttus Kritsky, Boeger and Thatcher, 1988, both parasites of Anostomidae fishes, have a paraphyletic position in the cladogram, suggesting that the origin of at least one of them can not be associated to cospeciation.

New species of Proteocephalus (Cestoda - Proteocephalidae) parasitic in fishes from the Paraná River, Paraná, Brazil

Two species of the genus Proteocephalus (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) were collected in fishes from the Paraná River. Proteocephalus vazzolerae n. sp. from Piaractus mesopotamicus and Proteocephalus chubbi, n. sp. from Gymnotus carapo are new species, and are described and illustrated. Proteocephalus vazzolerae n. sp. is characterized mainly by the number of testes and the development of vitellaria. Proteocephalus chubbi n. sp. can be differentiated from its congeners by a combination of characters which include, number of testes, number of proglottids, strobila length, scolex shape and disposition of vitellaria. This is the first record of proteocephalidean in P. mesopotamicus and G. carapo.