<b>Parasites of <i>Acestrorhynchus lacustris</i> (Lütken, 1875) (Characiformes: Acestrorhynchidae) collected from the Peixe River, southeast Brazil

From March to April 2010, specimens of Acestrorhynchus lacustris were collected in the Peixe River, Anhembi, São Paulo State, Brazil.  This characid, commonly known as peixe-cachorro, has a preference for lentic habitats and it features carnivorous habits, with an important role in the food chain. This study aimed to carry out a parasitological analysis of 34 specimens of A. lacustris, and 33 of these were infected by at least one species of metazoan parasite. Nine species were identified: Ameloblastella sp. and Diaphorocleidus sp. (Monogenea); Ascocotyle sp., Diplostomidae gen. sp. and Sphincterodiplostomum musculosum (Digenea); Contracaecum sp., Philometroides caudata, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus and P. (S.) saofranciscensis (Nematoda). Except P. caudata and P. (S.) saofranciscensis, all parasites showed prevalence higher than 10%. There was a positive correlation between host weight and length and the Ameloblastella sp. Diaphorocleidus sp. was the dominant species. No species was considered central. All parasites showed an aggregated distribution. The parasite community of A. lacustris was characterized by high richness (d = 0.85) and uniformity (J’ = 0.85) and low diversity (HB = 0.56). Except Nematoda, all other parasites were recorded for the first time in this host. Ameloblastella sp., Diaphorocleidus sp. and Ascocotyle sp. are recorded for the first time in the Peixe River

Metazoan parasite of lambari Astyanax altiparanae, collected from the Peixe river, São Paulo, southeast of Brazil

ABSTRACT: In March 2010, 44 specimens of Astyanax altiparanae Garutti & Britski, 2000, commonly known as "lambari do rabo amarelo", collected from the Peixe river in the state of São Paulo, Brazil were analyzed. Out of these 44 fishes, 38 had at least one species of metazoan parasite. Fifteen metazoan parasites species were collected and identified: Urocleidoides trinidadensis , Diaphorocleidus kabatai , Diaphorocleidus orthodusus, Diaphorocleidus sp., Urocleidoides sp., Trinibaculum altiparanae , Gyrodactylus sp., Jainus hexops, Contracaecum sp., Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Vaigamus sp., Amplexibranchius bryconis, Ergasilus sp., Zonocotyloides haroltravassossi and Henneguya sp. Six species of parasites presented a prevalence of over 10%. Weight and length of fishes didn't influence the parasitism. All parasites presented an aggregated distribution. The parasite community of Astyanax altiparanae from the Peixe river was characterized as having high richness and low uniformity