Las comunidades parasitarias de Micropogonias furnieri (corvina)en Argentina

SARDELLA, NORMA HAYDEE; JORGE ALEJANDRO ETCHEGOIN; MARTORELLI, SERGIO ROBERTO

Bol. Inst. Oceanogr. Venezuela, Univ. Oriente

Año: 1995 vol. 34 p. 41 - 47

The aim ofthis paper is to analyze the parasite composition of Micropogonias furnieri (whitemouth croaker) in relation to host ontogeny, to its feeding habits and to the migratory movements of fish from the estuarine area to the sea and viceversa. A total of 253 croakers were examined for parasites between 1985 and 1988. Each fish was dissected in order to collect the parasites present. Prevalence and intensity of infestations were calculated for each parasite group. Examination for parasites revealed the presence of the following taxa: Neopterinotrematoides avaginata, Neomacrovalvitrema argentiniensis and Macrovalvitrematidae gén. sp. (Monogenea) in the gills; Pachycreadium gastrocotylum and Lecithochirium microstomum (Digenea) in the alimentary tract; Lobatostoma ringens (Aspidobothrea) in the stomach; Corynosoma australe (Acanthocephala) in the coelomic cavity; Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) elongatus (Nematoda) in the intestine and Anisakis sp. (Nematoda) in the mesentery; Neobrachiella chevreuxii (Copepoda) in the branchial cavity. All the parasites showed over-dispersed or clumpeddistributions among host population. Parasitism evidenced a cumulative effect as host length increased and as fish migrated to marine waters. In general, differences between parasitism and host sex were not observed. The parasite species recorded and the fluctuations in prevalence and intensity values for different parasites in relation to length, sex and trophic habits offish, confirmed the generalist feeding habits of M. furnieri and showed a marked preference forcrustaceans as food items.