<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This study aimed to verify preferences for microhabitat by the monogeneans on the gills of the south american catfish, <italic>Rhamdia quelen</italic> (Quoy &amp; Gaimard, 1824), at different stocking densities under controlled laboratory conditions. Three stocking densities were used: 14, 28 and 42 fish per tank (50 L) and the fish were sampled initially, at day 5 and 10 of the experiment. <italic>Aphanoblastella mastigatus</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_helmin-2015-0067_ref_032_w2aab3b7c24b1b6b1ab2b1c32Aa">Suriano, 1986</xref>) was noted as the most abundant species at all stocking densities, except for the initial collection day. The gill arches I and II were the most parasitized, showing the highest mean abundance in the dorsal region, at the highest density. The pattern of microhabitat preference of <italic>A. mastigatus</italic> for outer regions of the gills of the host was independent of the stocking density and collection day. Higher prevalence and abundance of <italic>Scleroductus</italic> sp. at the initial collection reflected the parasitic infection of the fish at the farm from where the fish were taken. The abundance of <italic>Scleroductus</italic> sp. decreased along the experiment, and no preference for gill arches was recorded for the species, probably due to the low abundance of this parasite on the gills.</p></abstract>

This study aimed to verify preferences for microhabitat by the monogeneans on the gills of the south american catfish, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), at different stocking densities under controlled laboratory conditions. Three stocking densities were used: 14, 28 and 42 fish per tank (50 L) and the fish were sampled initially, at day 5 and 10 of the experiment. Aphanoblastella mastigatus (Suriano, 1986) was noted as the most abundant species at all stocking densities, except for the initial collection day. The gill arches I and II were the most parasitized, showing the highest mean abundance in the dorsal region, at the highest density. The pattern of microhabitat preference of A. mastigatus for outer regions of the gills of the host was independent of the stocking density and collection day. Higher prevalence and abundance of Scleroductus sp. at the initial collection reflected the parasitic infection of the fish at the farm from where the fish were taken. The abundance of Scleroductus sp. decreased along the experiment, and no preference for gill arches was recorded for the species, probably due to the low abundance of this parasite on the gills.

Preference for microhabitat by Monogenea on the gills of the south american catfish <italic>Rhamdia quelen</italic> at different stocking densities under laboratory conditions

AQUOS – Aquatic Organisms Health Laboratory, Aquaculture Department, CCA, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Rod. Admar Gonzaga, 1346, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

Federal University of Paraíba, Department of Systematics and Ecology, CCEN,, Castelo Branco, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Preference for microhabitat by Monogenea on the gills of the south american catfish  at different stocking densities under laboratory conditions

This study aimed to verify preferences for microhabitat by the monogeneans on the gills of the south american catfish, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824),...

Preference for microhabitat by Monogenea on the gills of the south american catfish Rhamdia quelen at different stocking densities under laboratory conditions

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Mar 10, 2016

Page range: 55 - 61

Received: Oct 07, 2013

Accepted: Oct 21, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/helmin-2015-0067

Keywords
fish, parasitology, monogenean, ectoparasites, ecology

© 2016 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Preference for microhabitat by Monogenea on the gills of the south american catfish Rhamdia quelen at different stocking densities under laboratory conditions

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Mar 10, 2016

Page range: 55 - 61

Received: Oct 07, 2013

Accepted: Oct 21, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/helmin-2015-0067

Keywordsfish, parasitology, monogenean, ectoparasites, ecology

© 2016 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
fish, parasitology, monogenean, ectoparasites, ecology