Parasite communities of Genypterus blacodes and G. brasiliensis (Pisces: Ophidiidae) from Argentina

SARDELLA, N.H.; AVENDAÑO, M.F.; TIMI, J.T.

Helminthologia

Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Lugar: Kosice; Año: 1998 vol. 35 p. 209 - 218

The parasite fauna of Genypterus blacodes (spotted kingklip) and G. brasiliensis´ (smooth kingklip) collected in different areas of the Argentine Shelf is described and quantified. The relationships of parasitism with length, sex and diet of hosts are analyzed. G. blacodes harboured the following taxa: Lecithochirium genypteri (Digenea), Anonchocephalus chilensis and Scolex polymorphus (Cestoda), Cucullanus genypteri, Anisakis sp., Contracaecum sp., Pseudoterranova decipiens and Hysterothylacium aduncum (Nematoda), Corynosoma sp. and Echinorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala) and Chondracanthus genypteri and Sphyrion laevigatum (Copepoda). Parasite prevalence was 96.0 %. Parasites of G. brasiliensis (smooth kingklip) were: Myxobolus sp. and Ceratomyxa sp. (Myxozoa), L. genypteri, A. chilensis, Trypanorhyncha plerocerci larvae, Anisakis sp., Contracaecum sp., P. decipiens, H. aduncum, C. genypteri, Corynosoma sp., S. laevigatum and one Chondracanthidae species. Prevalence was 100 %. The parasites found in both kingklips were assigned to three categories: parasites specific at host species level, parasites specific at host genus and host family level and those non specific; phylogenetic and ecologic factors are analyzed in this sense. Comparisons of parasitic communities among G. blacodes and G. brasiliensis from Argentina and G. blacodes, G . chilensis and G. macultus from Chile showed a greater similarity between G. blacodes from Atlantic and Pacific Oceans than among this species and the other kingklips, indicating the importance of phylogenetic factors as determinant of the structure of these assemb1ages.