Argulus elongatus (Branchiura, Argulidae) in fish in the upper São Francisco river, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Among 164 fish from the upper São Francisco river, caught in the Três Marias reservoir (18º 12’ 59” S; 45º 17’ 34” W) or downstream from this reservoir (18º 12’ 32” S; 45º 15’ 41” W) in 2007, 2008, 2016 and 2017, four specimens of Argulus elongatus Heller, 1857 were found, one specimen per fish, in the following host species: Brycon orthotaenia Günther (two fish parasitized out of 38 examined) and Salminus hilarii Valenciennes (one fish parasitized out of 45 examined) (both in Bryconidae); and Metynnis lippincottianus (Cope) (one fish parasitized out of 81 examined) (Serrasalmidae). This opportunistic ectoparasite deserves attention even in the case of low infestation in fish in a natural water system. This is the first record of a branchiuran species in B.orthotaenia; the host list of A.elongatus is extended through addition of the three fish species examined in this study, and the known Brazilian geographical distribution of this argulid is enlarged to the São Francisco river basin.

Keywords

• fish ectoparasite
• fish lice
• brycon orthotaenia
• salminus hilarii
• metynnis lippincottianus