Metazoan parasites of Aplochiton zebra (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) in the Argentinean Patagonia

FERNÁNDEZ, VALERIA; VIOZZI, GUSTAVO

Bariloche, Argentina

Congreso; VI Southern Connection Congress; 2010

Eight species of galaxiids are distributed in South America, and only the G. maculatus parasites have been studied exhaustively in Argentina. From the 4 galaxiids species present on the east of the Andes, Aplochiton zebra (peladilla) is distributed discontinuously from the 42°20´ to Tierra del Fuego and the Malvinas Islands. In Argentina 3 species of parasites were registered meanwhile in Chile only 2 species were cited. The aim of this research was to study at regional scale A. zebra´s parasites. Fish were collected with nets in 4 Patagonian lakes (42° 50´S to 52° 20´S), examined for parasites, and data about stages, site of infection, prevalence, and mean intensity were recorded. From the 108 peladillas examined, 13 species of metazoan parasites were found: 4 myxozoans, 3 digeneans, 1 cestode, 1 acanthocephalan, 3 nematodes and 1 bivalve. Unlike G. maculatus, no monogeneans were registered and the majority of the parasites are generalists and also parasitize G. maculatus. This research contributes to the knowledge of the A. zebra parasitofauna. Since this species has a wide distribution range and there is scarce information about its biology, this research is a contribution to a better knowledge of this galaxiid.