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Lernaea cyprinacea (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) in Piabarchus stramineus (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Taquari River, São Paulo State, Brazil

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Abstract

Lernaea cyprinacea is a lernaeid copepod also known as anchor worm. This species is considered one of the most invasive ectoparasites on fishes, with a worldwide distribution. In Brazil, L. cyprinacea has spread in almost the entire country, being recorded parasitizing both native and farmed fishes. Post-metamorphic adult females of L. cyprinacea were recorded for the first-time parasitizing larvae and juveniles of the native fish Piabarchus stramineus sampled in the Taquari River, Upper Paranapanema River, São Paulo State, Brazil. The lernaeids were found attached to the base of the fins, with a preference for the pelvic fin (43.7% of parasitized hosts). The presence of these parasites on larvae/juveniles resulted in deformations in the host bodies and modification of the caudal peduncle angulation. The findings of L. cyprinacea infecting P. stramineus raises concern about the dispersal of this invasive parasite in natural areas and the deleterious effects of this parasite, especially in young fishes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) (Proc. N°: 11/24159-3). R.B.N thanks the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the financial support given to the study (132844/2018-4). A.B.N. was supported by CNPq (GD: 140360/2011-5). R.J.S. is supported by FAPESP #2016/50377-1; CNPq #309125/2017-0; CNPq-PROTAX #440496/2015-2.

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  1. Laboratory of Parasitology of Wild Animals, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, 18618-689, São Paulo State, Brazil

    Rodrigo Bravin Narciso, Aline Angelina Acosta & Reinaldo José da Silva

  2. Laboratory of Biology and Genetic of Fishes, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, 18618-689, São Paulo State, Brazil

    André Batista Nobile, Felipe Pontieri de Lima & Diogo Freitas-Souza

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  1. Rodrigo Bravin Narciso
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  2. Aline Angelina Acosta
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Narciso, R.B., Acosta, A.A., Nobile, A.B. et al. Lernaea cyprinacea (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) in Piabarchus stramineus (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Taquari River, São Paulo State, Brazil. Biologia 74, 1171–1179 (2019). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-019-00240-z

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