Neotrop. Helminthol., 6(1), 2012
2012 Asociación Peruana de Helmintología e Invertebrados Afines (APHIA)
ISSN: 2218-6425 impreso / ISSN: 1995-1043 on line
ORIGINAL ARTICLE / ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL
1 2 3
Anderson Dias Cezar , Fabiano Paschoal & José Luis Luque
Abstract
Mexicana anisotremum n. sp. (Monogenea) a gill filaments parasite of two species of fishes of the
genus Anisotremus from the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (approx. 21-23º S, 42-45º W), is
described and illustrated. The monogeneans were collected from 32 specimens of Anisotremus
virginicus (Linnaeus, 1758), and 13 specimens of A. surinamensis (Bloch, 1791) (Haemulidae). The
new species of Mexicana, differs from M. atlantica Luque, Amato & Takemoto, 1992 by: 1. presence
of a sclerotized structure with six spines in vaginal vestibule; 2. absence of bilobed testes; and 3.
Presence of copulatory organ without sclerotized piece at its base.
Key words: Anisotremus - Atlantic Ocean - Brazil - Marine fish - Monogenea - Neotropics.
Resumen
Palabras clave: Anisotremus - Brasil - Monogenea - Neotrópico - Océano Atlántico - Peces marinos.
Mexicana anisotremum n. sp. (Monogenea) un parásito branquial de las especies de peces del género
Anisotremus de la costa del estado de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (aprox. 21-23º S, 42-45º W), es descrita e
ilustrada. Los monogéneos se obtuvieron de 32 especímenes de Anisotremus virginicus (Linnaeus,
1758), y 13 A. surinamensis (Bloch, 1791) (Haemulidae). La nueva especie de Mexicana difiere de M.
atlantica Luque, Amato y Takemoto, 1992 por: 1. presencia de una estructura esclerotizada con seis
espinas en el vestíbulo vaginal, 2. el testículo no es bilobulado, y 3. órgano copulador, sin pieza
esclerotizada en la base.
A NEW SPECIES OF MEXICANA (MONOGENEA: DACTYLOGYRIDAE)
PARASITIC ON TWO SPECIES OF ANISOTREMUS
(PERCIFORMES: HAEMULIDAE) FROM THE BRAZILIAN COASTAL ZONE
UNA NUEVA ESPECIE DE MEXICANA (MONOGENEA: DACTYLOGYRIDAE)
PARÁSITO DE DOS ESPECIES DE ANISOTREMUS
(PERCIFORMES: HAEMULIDAE) DE LA COSTA BRASILEÑA
Suggested citation: Dias Cezar, AD, Paschoal, F& Luque, JL. 2012. A new species of Mexicana (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae)
parasitic on two species of Anisotremus (Perciformes: Haemulidae) from the Brazilian coastal zone.
Neotropical Helminthology, vol. 6, N°1, pp. 25 - 29.
1 Universidade Castelo Branco – RJ, CEPBio – Av. Santa Cruz, 1631, Realengo, RJ, CEP 21710-250. E-mail: anderson@castelobranco.br
2 Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
3 Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Caixa postal 74508,
Seropédica, RJ, Brasil. CEP 23851-970.
25
Haemulid fishes of the genus Anisotremus
(Linnaeus, 1758) are widely distributed in the
Neotropics (Froese & Pouly, 2011). In the
Brazilian littoral, three species are known:
Anisotremus virginicus (Linnaeus, 1758), A.
surinamensis (Bloch, 1791) and A. bicolor
(Castelnau, 1850) (Menezes & Figueiredo, 1980).
Nevertheless, none monogeneans species were
recorded in Brazilian species of this fish genus.
During the study of parasite biodiversity in
haemulids from the coast of state of the Rio de
Janeiro, several specimens of monogeneans
identified as a new species of Mexicana Caballero
& Bravo-Hollis, 1959 were collected. This new
species is discribed and illustrated herein. This is
the second record of Mexicana species in the South
American Atlantic Ocean, and the first record in
Anisotremus species.
Thirty-two specimens of Anisotremus virginicus
(Linnaeus, 1758), and 13 specimens of
Anisotremus surinamensis (Bloch, 1791) were
examined between March 2010 and June 2011.
Fishes were captured from the coast of the State of
Rio de Janeiro (nearly 21-23S and 42-45W) by
professional fishermen. The specimens of A.
virginicus measured 23.1 to 35.3 cm in standard
length and weighted 202.6 to 774 g, and the
specimens of A. surinamensis measured 23 to 54
cm in standard length and weighted 220 to 2620 g.
The identification of the host was made according
to Menezes & Figueiredo (1980).
The monogeneans were removed from de gills,
washed in 0.65% saline solution and fixed and
preserved in formaline 5%. Some specimens were
stained with Gomori's trichome and mounted in
Canada balsam. Other specimens were mounted in
Gray & Wess medium (Humason, 1979) for study
their sclerotized pieces. The illustrations were
made with the aid of a drawing tube. The
measurements are given in micrometers (m) unless
MATERIAL AND METHODS
INTRODUCTION otherwise indicated and the range is followed by
the mean within parentheses. The terms mean
intensity of infestation and prevalence were used
according to Bush et al. (1997). The holotype and
paratypes were deposited in the Helminthological
Collection of Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CHIOC),
Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Monogenea van Beneden, 1858
Dactylogyridae Bychowsky, 1933
Mexicana anisotremum n. sp.
DESCRIPTION (based on 15 specimens stained
and mounted, 6 specimens measured): Body
elongate (Fig. 1). Total length 684 – 997 (826),
maximum width at ovary level 142 - 256 (213).
Cephalic region with three terminal, well
developed lobes. Cephalic organs and glands
extended to eyes. Eyes four, similar size
equidistant. Haptor poorly differentiated 51-75
(66) long, 102-165 (123) wide, cephalic lobes
indistinct. Anchors subequal, dorsal anchor (Fig. 2)
38-51 (46) long, ventral anchor (Fig. 3) 47-53 (50)
long; anchors nakedand robust, curvature to the
middle part; dorsal bar (Fig. 4) 35-44 (37) long,
with ondulated surfaces; ventral bar 29-33 (31)
long, ventral bar (Fig. 5) with high lateral and
medial prominence; hooks 14 (Fig. 6), similar in
shape and size, short shank, erect thumb, curved
shaft, delicate point, filamentous hook about 90%
of shank length. Pharynx pyriform or ovoid 39-63
(51) long, 33-54 (43) wide; intestinal ceca
confluent posteriorly. Testis 72-144 (118) long, 42-
117 (65) wide, ovoid; vas deferens thick; prostatic
glands well developed, prostatic reservoir
subspherical; copulatory organ long (Fig. 7),
slightly sinuous, curved distal point Ovary
bilobed, 79-197 (129) long, 118-256 (162) wide;
Mehlis' gland upon ovary, with elongate and
pedunculated cells; vagina sacciform; vaginal pore
dextrolateral; vaginal vestibule with six spines
(Fig. 8); at level of copulatory organ base; vitellaria
scattered throughout trunk, absent in region of
reproductive organs. Eggs not observed.
.
Cezar et al.
A new specie of Mexicana of Anisotremus
DESCRIPTION
26
Neotrop. Helminthol., 6(1), 2012
Taxonomic Summary
Type host: Anisotremus virginicus (Linnaeus,
1758) (Haemulidae)
Other host: Anisotremus surinamensis (Bloch,
1791) (Haemulidae)
Type locality: coastal zone of the State of Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil (nearly 21-23S and 42-45W).
Site of infestation: gills.
Type specimens: Holotype CHIOC N°37767, two
paratypes CHIOC N°s 37768 and 37769.
Etymology: The specific name is refers to genus of
the hosts.
Prevalence: 23 % on A. surinamensis and 31 % on
A. virginicus.
Mean Intensity of infestation: 5.3 on A.
surinamensis and 13.5 A. virginicus.
27
Figures 1-8. Mexicana anisotremum n. sp. Fig. 1. Holotype, ventral view. Fig. 2. dorsal anchor. Fig. 3. ventral
anchor. Fig. 4. dorsal bar. Fig. 5. ventral bar. Fig. 6. hook. Fig. 7. copulatory organ. Fig. 8. vaginal vestibule
Cezar et al.
A new specie of Mexicana of Anisotremus
28
DISCUSSION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Bush, AO, Lafferty, KD, Lotz, JM & Shostak, AW.
1997. Parasitology meets ecology on its
own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. The
Journal of Parasitology, vol. 83, pp. 575-
583.
The genus Mexicana was proposed by Caballero &
Bravo-Hollis (1959) with the description of
Mexicana bychowsky Caballero & Bravo-Hollis,
1959 using specimens collected from an
undetermined host, from the Mexican Pacific
Ocean. The other species the same genus from the
Mexican Pacific waters is Mexicana littoralis
described by Caballero & Bravo-Hollis (1961) a
parasite from Haemulon sexfasciatum Gill, 1862.
Later, Luque et al. (1992) described Mexicana
atlantica parasitizing Haemulon steindachneri
(Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) from de Brazilian coast
and recorded by the first time Mexicana species
from Atlantic Ocean. Based on the morphology of
male and female reproductive system and also the
structures of the haptor, the new species is most
similar to M. atlantica, but the new species can be
separated by the following characteristics: 1.
presence six spines in vaginal vestibule which is
absent in the other Mexicana species. 2. no bilobed
testes. The other species of the genus have bilobed
testes in their posterior portion; and 3. copulatory
organ, long, without sclerotized piece at its base,
while M. atlantica has copulatory organ base with
transversal fusiform piece sclerotized.
We thank to John Francisco Neto for collecting and
processing part of the parasites studied. The
authors are also grateful to Conselho Nacional de
Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
(CNPq) for support.
Caballero, E & Bravo-Hollis, M. 1959.
Caballero, E & Bravo-Hollis, M. 1961.
Froese, R & Pauly, D. Ed. 2011.
Humason, GL. 1979.
Luque, JL, Amato, JFR & Takemoto, RM. 1992.
Menezes, NA & Figueiredo, JL. 1980.
Tremátodos de peces de aguas Mexicanas
del Pacífico. XVII. Dos nuevos géneros de
Monogenoidea Bychowsky, 1937. Anales
del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México (Serie
Zoologia), vol. 30, pp. 167-181.
Tremátodos de peces de aguas Mexicanas
del Pacífico. XX. Anales del Instituto de
Biología de la Universidad Nacional
Autónoma de México (Serie Zoologia), vol.
32, pp. 201-217. FishBase. World
Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, version (11/2011). th
Animal Tissue Techniques. 4
ed. W. H. Freeman and Company, San
Francisco, CA, USA. 661 p. A
new species of Mexicana (Monogenea:
Dactylogyridae) parasitic on Haemulon
steindachneri (Jordan & Gilbert)
(Osteichthyes: Haemulidae) from Brazilian
coast. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia
Veterinária, vol. 1, pp. 85-88. Manual de
Peixes Marinhos do Sudeste de Brasil IV.
Teleostei (3). Museu de Zoologia,
Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP,
96 p.
*Author for correspondence / Autor para
correspondencia:
Anderson Dias Cezar
Universidade Castelo Branco – RJ, CEPBio – Av.
Santa Cruz, 1631, Realengo, RJ, CEP 21710-250.
E-mail/ Correo electrónico:
anderson@castelobranco.br
Received November 18, 2011.
Accepted January 28, 2012.
Neotrop. Helminthol., 6(1), 2012
29
