A Fauna Parasitária de Schizodon fasciatus Spix & Agassiz, 1829 (Characiformes: Anostomidae) de Lagos de Várzea do Rio Solimões, Amazônia, Brasil

Abstract

Were examined 52 Schizodon fasciatus caught in the six floodplain lakes of the Solimões River in March (flood season), June (full season), September (lowering water season) and December (dry season) during the year 2007. A total of 3964 parasites were collected with 3723 ectoparasites and 183 endoparasites. Were identified twelve species parasitizing S. fasciatus. Four of Monogenoidea: Urocleidoides sp. Tereancistrum parvus; Tereancistrum sp. parasitizing the gill filaments and Rhinoxenus arietinus nostrils. Two of Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchus sp. and Octospiniferoides incognita parasitizing the intestine. Four of Copepoda: Ergasilus leporinidis; Ergasilus sp. Brasergasilus sp. parasitizing the gill filaments and Gamispatulus schizodontis nostrils. Two of Branchiura: Argulus chicomendesi and A. multicolor gills. The highest prevalence was E. leporinidis, Urocleidoides sp. and G. schizodontis. This is the first record of species of Monogenoidea parasitizing the gill filaments of S. fasciatus. The fauna of parasites showed no seasonal occurrence. There was no correlation with the average abundance of host standard length. Twelve species depend on S. fasciatus to complete their life cycle and make up the complex food web of floodplain lakes studied.