Diversidade e ecologia parasitária de Propimelodus eigenmanni (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), capturado na baía do Marajó, Pará

Abstract

South America is home to one of the world’s richest fish faunas, with more than 6,000 described fish species, of which approximately 2,400 are found in the Amazon Basin, considered the region with the greatest biodiversity on the planet. Fishing, in addition to representing an important economic and food-related activity, also highlights the ecological relevance of fish, which serve as hosts for a wide range of parasitic fauna. Thus, this study aims to describe the diversity and parasitic ecology of Propimelodus eigenmanni captured on Jutuba Island, Marajó Bay, Pará, Brazil. A total of 100 specimens of P. eigenmanni (52 ♂ and 48 ♀) were analyzed, and the helminths found were quantified for analysis of ecological indices of parasitism and processed for observation under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The prevalence of parasitism was 99%, with a total of 3,239 parasites found. The following helminths were identified: Dichelyne (D.) jutubensis, Spirocamallanus delirae (adults and larvae), Spirocamallanus rarus, larvae of Anisakis sp. and Hysterothylacium sp., and Cestoda (proglottids). The study presents an important taxonomic contribution to the biodiversity and parasitic ecology of Amazonian fish, including the description of Dichelyne (D.) jutubensis, which highlights the importance of parasitic taxonomy as fundamental too for understanding the parasite-host-environment relationship.