Taxonomia e ecologia de metazoários parasitos de Loricariichthys Platymetopon Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979 (Loricariidae, Siluriformes) da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil.

Abstract

The data contained in this paper were obtained from quarterly samples between March and December of 2004, as part of Brazil?s Long Term Ecological Research program in the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil (B-LTER - Site 6). During this period, 152 specimens of Loricariichthys platymetopon were necropsied and examined for parasites. Two new genus of monogenean were described from the gills. Crocodilicola pseudostoma was registered to occur for the first time in this host, and Clinostomum complanatum and Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) mahnerti were also encountered. All examined fish were parasitized by at least one species, primarily R. (S.) mahnerti. Positive correlation were observed between host standard length and abundance for Articulotrema platymetopon, C. complanatum and R. (S.) mahnerti and between host standard length and prevalence for A. platymetopon, Longivaginum paranaensis and C. pseudostoma. Articulotrema platymetopon and L. paranaensis were positively associated, and all species showed aggregated distributions. On average, higher abundance was observed in the hottest months (September and December) and in open lagoons. Host condition was not affected by the total abundance of parasites.