Estudo da composição da fauna parasitária de duas espécies de peixes da Lagoa Mundaú

Abstract

Fish parasitology is an important area of biology and veterinary sciences, which is gaining more and more prominence, as in recent times there has been a growing increase in studies related to the theme of parasites of aquatic organisms. These studies mainly involve fish parasites, as they are animals that have great potential for commercialization and cultivation. Fish parasites are abundant and have a wide geographic distribution, and it is difficult to find, in any marine or freshwater species, a fish that is not parasitized by at least one species, either on the surface, gills, tongue or in its internal organs. Lagoa Mundaú is a place little studied with regard to the diversity of parasites and other associated factors. In order to contribute to knowledge, the parasite diversity of two fish species, Larimus breviceps and Lutjanus synagris, from Lagoa Mundaú in Maceió was analyzed. Of the 51 specimens of necropsied fish, 38 were parasitized, 20 of L. breviceps and 18 of L. synagris. A total of 5 metazoan taxa were found parasitizing both species of fish, belonging to the phyla Acanthocephala and Nematoda, subphylum Crustacea, classes Cestoda and Monogenea, and subclass Digenea. Most taxa could only be identified at class or genus level, making a more specific classification not possible. In Larimus breviceps, Anisakis, Caligus sp., Capillaridae, Contracaecum, Philometra and Terranova sp. represent new records of species in this host. For Lutjanus synagris, the results do not indicate the presence of new records, although a definitive conclusion of pending identifications is still necessary. Special attention should be given to anisakids and the consumption of fish parasitized by them, as they cause anisakiasis, a disease that can lead to death. The comparative analysis of the diversity of parasites of the fish L. breviceps and L. synagris from Lagoa Mundaú with other locations where they have already been studied, point to both new records of species for the hosts, as well as records previously found by other authors. The epidemiological survey of nematode larvae collected from the hosts also indicates the presence of species of zoonotic importance.