Monogenean parasites are often co-introduced with their fish hosts into novel areas. This study confirmed co-introduction of two dactylogyrids, Dactylogyrus squameus Gusev, 1955 and Bivaginogyrus obscurus (Gusev, 1955), and a newly described gyrodactylid species, Gyrodactylus pseudorasborae n. sp. into Europe along with their fish host, the invasive topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel) from East Asia. All three species were observed in the lower Dnieper and middle Danube basin regions and had slightly larger haptoral hard parts than the same parasites in their native range. While dactylogyrids occurred sporadically, we recorded regular infection by G. pseudorasborae n. sp. at relatively high prevalence and abundance. This latter species was observed in both the native and non-native range of topmouth gudgeon, and resembles Gyrodactylus parvae You et al., 2008 recently described from P. parva in China. Both species were distinguished based on genetic analysis of their ITS rDNA sequence (6.6% difference), and morphometric differences in the marginal hooks and male copulatory organ. Phylogenetic analysis of dactylogyrid monogeneans showed that B. obscurus clustered with Dactylogyrus species parasitising Gobionidae and Xenocyprididae, including D. squameus, supporting recent suggestions of a paraphyletic origin of the Dactylogyrus genus. In addition to co-introduced parasites, topmouth gudgeon was infected with a local generalist, G. prostae Ergens, 1964, increasing the number of monogeneans acquired in Europe to three species. Nevertheless, monogenean infections were generally lower in non-native host populations, potentially giving an advantage to invading topmouth gudgeon.

TITLE: Les parasites d’un envahisseur à succès : les monogènes du goujon asiatique Pseudorasbora parva, avec description d’une nouvelle espèce de Gyrodactylus. ABSTRACT: Les parasites monogènes sont souvent co-introduits avec leurs hôtes poissons dans de nouvelles zones. Cette étude a confirmé la co-introduction de deux Dactylogyridae, Dactylogyrus squameus Gusev, 1955 et Bivaginogyrus obscurus (Gusev, 1955), et d’une espèce de Gyrodactylidae nouvellement décrite, Gyrodactylus pseudorasborae n. sp. en Europe, en même temps que leur hôte poisson, le goujon envahissant Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel) qui vient d’Asie de l’Est. Les trois espèces ont été observées dans les régions du bas Dniepr et du bassin moyen du Danube et avaient des parties sclérifiées haptorales légèrement plus grandes que les mêmes parasites dans leur aire de répartition d’origine. Alors que les Dactylogyridae étaient rares, nous avons enregistré une infection régulière par G. pseudorasborae n. sp. à une prévalence et une abondance relativement élevées. Cette dernière espèce a été observée à la fois dans l’aire de répartition indigène et non indigène du goujon asiatique et ressemble à Gyrodactylus parvae You et al., 2008 récemment décrit chez P. parva en Chine. Les deux espèces ont été distinguées sur la base de l’analyse génétique de leur séquence ITS de l’ADNr (différence de 6,6 %) et des différences morphométriques dans les crochets marginaux et l’organe copulateur mâle. L’analyse phylogénétique des monogènes Dactylogyridae a montré que B. obscurus se regroupait avec des espèces de Dactylogyrus parasitant les Gobionidae et les Xenocyprididae, y compris D. squameus, soutenant les suggestions récentes d’une origine paraphylétique du genre Dactylogyrus. En plus des parasites co-introduits, le goujon asiatique était infecté par un généraliste local, G. prostae Ergens, 1964, portant le nombre de monogènes acquis en Europe à trois espèces. Néanmoins, les infections par les monogènes étaient généralement plus faibles dans les populations d’hôtes non indigènes, donnant potentiellement un avantage à l’invasion du goujon asiatique.

• Keywords
• Bivaginogyrus, Monogenea, New species, Parasite loss, Phylogeny, Species invasion,
• MeSH
• Cyprinidae * parasitology   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Cypriniformes * MeSH
• Fish Diseases * epidemiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Parasites * MeSH
• Trematoda * genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

New findings on Gyrodactylus spp. parasitising African cichlids in southern Africa are presented, comprising data from Zimbabwe and South Africa. Morphometry of opisthaptoral hard parts in combination with nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences confirmed the presence of six species of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832. Three new species are described from fishes in Zimbabwe: Gyrodactylus chitandiri n. sp. from the gill arches of Coptodon rendalli (Boulenger) and Pseudocrenilabrus philander (Weber); Gyrodactylus occupatus n. sp. from the fins of Oreochromis niloticus (L.), Pharyngochromis acuticeps (Steindachner) and P. philander; and Gyrodactylus parisellei n. sp. from the fins of O. niloticus, P. philander and Tilapia sp. Gyrodactylus nyanzae Paperna, 1973 was also identified from the gills of O. niloticus and C. rendalli collected from two localities in Zimbabwe; these findings represent new host and locality records for this parasite. Gyrodactylus sturmbaueri Vanhove, Snoeks, Volckaert & Huyse, 2011 was identified from P. philander collected in South Africa and Zimbabwe thereby providing new host and locality records for this parasite. Finally, Gyrodactylus yacatli García-Vásquez, Hansen, Christison, Bron & Shinn, 2011 was collected from the fins of O. niloticus and P. philander studied in Zimbabwe; this represents the first record of this species from the continent of Africa. Notably, this study improves upon the knowledge of Gyrodactylus spp. parasitising cichlids from these southern African regions. All species studied were recorded from at least two different cichlid host species indicating trend for a wide range of Gyrodactylus hosts in Africa. Accordingly, this supports the idea of intensive host switching in the course of their evolution.

• MeSH
• Biodiversity MeSH
• Cichlids parasitology   MeSH
• DNA, Helminth genetics   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Host Specificity MeSH
• Animal Fins parasitology   MeSH
• Rivers MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal genetics   MeSH
• Trematoda anatomy & histology   classification   genetics   MeSH
• Gills parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• South Africa MeSH
• Zimbabwe MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Helminth MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal MeSH

An overview of Gyrodactylus infecting catfishes from the African continent is provided, including new data from Sudan, Senegal, Kenya and Mozambique. Haptoral sclerite morphometry and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences revealed the presence of eight Gyrodactylus species. On Senegalese Synodontis nigrita, Gyrodactylus synodonti n. sp. and Gyrodactylus nigritae n. sp. are described. These are the first reports of gyrodactylid parasites from mochokid hosts. From the fins of North African catfish Clarias gariepinus collected in Mozambique, Gyrodactylus alekosi n. sp. and Gyrodactylus rysavyi were identified. G. rysavyi was also reported from Kenyan C. gariepinus and Senegalese Clarias anguillaris. From the fins of C. anguillaris studied in Senegal, two more species, Gyrodactylus transvaalensis and Gyrodactylus gelnari n. sp. were recognised. In addition, Gyrodactylus turkanaensis n. sp. from the gills of Kenyan C. gariepinus was described and an undescribed Gyrodactylus sp. was recorded from Sudanese representatives of the same host. Detailed morphometrical and molecular comparisons of the species are presented and discussed. The study highlights the hitherto understudied diversity of viviparous monogenean parasites throughout Africa.

• MeSH
• DNA, Helminth genetics   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Genetic Variation MeSH
• Trematode Infections parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal Spacer genetics   MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Fish Diseases parasitology   MeSH
• Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
• Catfishes parasitology   MeSH
• Trematoda anatomy & histology   classification   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Gills anatomy & histology   parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Africa MeSH
• Kenya MeSH
• Mozambique MeSH
• Senegal MeSH
• Sudan MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Helminth MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal Spacer MeSH

This study is focused on the feasibility of two treatments of alcohol-fixed monogenean parasites which are intended to be use for the combined morphological and molecular characterizations. The monogenean parasite, Eudiplozoon nipponicum, was selected as a model parasite species; however it is expected that these techniques will be suitable for other monogeneans and other parasitic families. The haptor of diplozoid parasites is equipped with sclerotized attachment clamps and central hooks which are utilized for morphological identification. As parasite tissue become very tough and rigid when preserved in ethanol, using these structures for species identification without additional treatment is difficult. We investigated two different techniques to digest the surrounding tissues, the first was treatment with 10% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and the second treatment was proteinase K. Tissue was successfully digested in both treatments and all clamps, central hook and even individual sclerites of the clamps were clearly visible and well defined. After treatment, the digest was used to extract genomic DNA, and the second internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA genes (rDNA) was amplified. Nucleic acid sequence was obtained from 90% of parasite specimens processed by both treatments. Treatment of haptors with SDS was proven to be more successful with no visible changes or damage observed to sclerites even after a month. This method represents a useful tool for the combined morphological and molecular studies as the correct sequence can be assigned to the same individual worm from which haptoral parts have been obtained.

• MeSH
• DNA, Helminth genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate metabolism   MeSH
• Endopeptidase K metabolism   MeSH
• Ethanol pharmacology   MeSH
• Fixatives pharmacology   MeSH
• Preservation, Biological methods   MeSH
• Specimen Handling methods   MeSH
• Parasitology methods   MeSH
• Platyhelminths anatomy & histology   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Helminth MeSH
• Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate MeSH
• Endopeptidase K MeSH
• Ethanol MeSH
• Fixatives MeSH

The first record of Gyrodactylus species Nordmann, 1832 on the cichlid fish from Senegal is reported. Gyrodactylus parasites were found on four host species studied, Hemichromis fasciatus, Hemichromis letournaeuxi, Oreochromis niloticus, and Sarotherodon galilaeus. Gyrodactylus cichlidarum Paperna (Bamidgeh 13:14-29, 1968) were collected from H. fasciatus, and its identity was confirmed based on the morphometrical comparison with the holotype specimens of G. cichlidarum. Only one specimen of Gyrodactylus sp. was noted on H. letournaeuxi. The gyrodactylid specimens on O. niloticus and S. galilaeus were described as Gyrodactylus ergensi n. sp. based on the detailed morphometrical analysis supported by sequencing. The haptoral sclerites of G. ergensi n. sp., which closely resemble those of Gyrodactylus nyanzae Paperna, 1973, are compared with the type material and discussed. A partial sequence of the internal transcribed spacer recombinant DNA (ITS rDNA) was obtained from two specimens of G. ergensi, and a close relationship between G. ergensi n. sp. and G. cichlidarum is suggested based on 92% similarity in ITS rDNA region.

• MeSH
• Cichlids parasitology   MeSH
• DNA, Helminth chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal Spacer chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Platyhelminths anatomy & histology   classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Senegal MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Helminth MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal Spacer MeSH