Parasitic metazoans of juvenile kingfish Odontesthes bonariensis Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1835 in experimental cultivation
Author: Tatiane Penteado Gonçalves (Currículo Lattes)
Supervisor: Dr Joaber Pereira Júnior
Co-supervisor: Dr Luís André Nassr de Sampaio
Abstract
The knowledge of parasitic associations, their indexes and the form of occurrence in fish farming are fundamental for the development of prevention and control strategies. An experiment with eighty specimens of Odontesthes bonariensis was established to characterize the transmission and diversity of metazoan parasites, their form of occurrence and associated parasitological indexes in the experimental culture. In addition, possible differences in the weight of the fish were verified at the end of the experiment. The fish were divided into four groups that received different diets for 60 days: feed; ration + plankton; shrimp; shrimp + plankton. At the end of the experiment, Digenea (Trematoda), Proteocephalidae (Cestoda), Nematoda and Isopoda (Crustacea) were found. There is evidence that Proteocephalidae are transmitted by plankton components, Digenea and Nematoda by the shrimp Palaemonetes argentinus (Decapoda). Isopoda parasitosis, identified as Artystone trysibia (Cymothoidae), is not related to the host's diet. The comparison of the weight of the hosts suggests that fish that consume plankton reach a higher weight at the end of the experiment, even with the occurrence of parasitosis by Proteocephalidae. In view of the pathogenic potential of A. trysibia, this study presents a review of the biology of the species included in Artystone as well as a key to identify its species.