RESUMO
Homalometron palmeri n. sp. is described and reported from the following fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico: Micropogonias undulatus, Sciaenops ocellatus, Bairdiella chrysoura, Pogonias cromis, Fundulus grandis, Fundulus similis, and Eucinostomus argenteus. This species historically has been misidentified as Homalometron pallidum by some, and treated as Homalometron sp. by others. The new species differs from H. manteri by having a smaller body size, relatively longer postcecal space ranging from 7 to 15% of body length compared with 6-8%, body spines from 12 to 17 µm long compared with 15-20 µm, and an oral-to-ventral sucker width ratio of 1:1.2-1.3 compared with 1:1.3-1.5. Ribosomal DNA sequences from H. palmeri n. sp., H. pallidum, Homalometron manteri, and Homalometron pseudopallidum are compared and the new species is found to be most similar to H. manteri, a sympatric species. Comparison between 2 mitochondrial genes from H. palmeri n. sp. and H. manteri provided further evidence for their status as distinct species. Pairwise comparison of 503 aligned bases from ND1 gene revealed 33 variable sites (6.5%) between the 2 species. Pairwise comparison of 1,152 aligned bases from COI gene revealed 73 variable sites (6.3%) between the 2 species. Interspecific variability in mitochondrial sequences between the 2 species was 3-16 times greater than intraspecific variability in either species.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Fundulidae/parasitologia , Perciformes/parasitologia , Trematódeos/classificação , Infecções por Trematódeos/veterinária , Animais , DNA de Helmintos/química , DNA Ribossômico/química , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/química , Louisiana , Mississippi , New England , RNA Ribossômico 18S/genética , RNA Ribossômico 28S/genética , RNA Ribossômico 5,8S/genética , Trematódeos/anatomia & histologia , Trematódeos/genética , Trematódeos/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Trematódeos/parasitologiaRESUMO
We describe the distribution and abundance of the brain-encysting trematode Euhaplorchis californiensis and its second intermediate host, the California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis), in 3 estuaries in southern California and Baja California. We quantified the density of fish and metacercariae at 13-14 sites per estuary and dissected 375 killifish. Density (numbers and biomass) was examined at 3 spatial scales, i.e., small replicate sites, habitats, and entire estuaries. At those same scales, factors that might influence metacercaria prevalence, abundance, and aggregation in host individuals and populations were also examined. Metacercaria prevalence was 94-100% among the estuaries. Most fish were infected with 100s to 1,000s of E. californiensis metacercariae, with mean abundance generally increasing with host size. Although body condition of fish did not vary among sites or estuaries, the abundance of metacercariae varied significantly among sites, habitats, estuaries, and substantially with host size and gender. Metacercariae were modestly aggregated in killifish (k > 1), with aggregation decreasing in larger hosts. Across the 3 estuaries, the total populations of killifish ranged from 9,000-12,000 individuals/ha and from 7-43 kg/ha. The component populations of E. californiensis metacercariae ranged from 78-200 million individuals/ha and from 0.1-0.3 kg/ha. Biomass of E. californiensis metacercariae constituted 0.5-1.7% of the killifish biomass in the estuaries. Our findings, in conjunction with previously documented effects of E. californiensis, suggest a strong influence of this parasite on the size, distribution, biomass, and abundance of its killifish host.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/parasitologia , Ecossistema , Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Fundulidae/parasitologia , Trematódeos/fisiologia , Infecções por Trematódeos/veterinária , Animais , Biomassa , Encefalopatias/parasitologia , Encefalopatias/veterinária , California/epidemiologia , Feminino , Doenças dos Peixes/epidemiologia , Modelos Lineares , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , México/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Caramujos , Trematódeos/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Infecções por Trematódeos/epidemiologia , Infecções por Trematódeos/parasitologiaRESUMO
The diagnosis of Kudoa funduli (Hahn, 1915) Meglitsch, 1948 (Myxozoa), is supplemented through study of new material collected from Fundulus heteroclitus (Cyprinodontidae) in coastal waters of Nova Scotia, Canada, and Connecticut. Plasmodia normally develop intracellularly in striated muscle of the flank and head, eventually rupturing and releasing spores. Spores disperse along adjacent epimysium, sometimes as far as the skin surface. Some plasmodia develop extracellularly within the bony cavities of vertebrae. Formalin-fixed spores viewed with a light microscope possess rounded edges, an inconspicuous apical region, thin sutural ridges, measure 6.6-7.4 microm wide, 4.3-5 microm thick, and 5.1-5.4 microm long, and have 4 equally sized polar capsules, 1.7-2.3 microm length by 1.4-1.7 microm width. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that spores are almost stellate, with inconspicuous uplifted tips, and that, within intracellular plasmodia, are embedded in an extensive honeycomb-like matrix. Prevalence of infection of K. funduli was 100% in host populations sampled in both Nova Scotia and Connecticut. Molecular sequence data of the 18S ribosomal DNA (737 base pairs) reveal that K. funduli is a valid species and a member of a clade that includes Kudoa dianae Dyková, Avila, and Fiala, 2002, Kudoa miniauriculata Whitaker, Kent, and Sakanari, 1996, and Kudoa paniformis Kabata and Whitaker, 1981.