Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Description of three new species of Quadriacanthus (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) gill parasites of Clarias submarginatus (Siluriformes: Clariidae) from Lake Ossa (Littoral region, Cameroon)

ABSTRACT

Clariidae is a group that includes many species that have great economic importance in both fisheries and fish culture. Monogenean parasites of fishes assigned to this family have been studied in Cameroon, but there have been no studies on Clarias submarginatus Peter, 1882, a fish that is traditionally consumed by the local people. The examination of 43 specimens identified as C. submarginatus from Lake Ossa (first record of this fish species in the Sanaga basin), revealed that some of them belong to Quadriacanthus and are new. Their identification was made based on the morphology and the size of sclerotized parts of the haptor and the male and female copulatory complexes. Quadriacanthus macruncus Bahanak, Nack & Pariselle sp. nov. and Quadriacanthus submarginati Bahanak, Nack & Pariselle sp. nov. are characterized by the morphology of their accessory piece, pointed, slightly curved and wider at medium level, equipped with two subterminal, symmetrical and similar spines for Q. macruncus sp. nov. and made up of one long tip flanked by a short spine and a bulb for Q . submarginati sp. nov., while Quadriacanthus ossaensis Bahanak, Nack & Pariselle sp. nov. is distinguished by the unique morphology of the penis, ending in a fork. The new species of Quadriacanthus are herein described and their host specificity is discussed.

KEY WORDS:
Quadriacanthus macruncus sp. nov.; Quadriacanthus ossaensis sp. nov.; Quadriacanthus submarginati sp. nov.

Clariid catfishes are characterized by the presence of a unique arborescent supra-branchial organ formed by the second and fourth gill arches, which enables them to breathe atmospheric oxygen (Teugels & Adriaens 2003Teugels GG, Adriaens D (2003) Taxonomy and phylogeny of Clariidae: an overview, p. 465-487. In: Arratia G, Kapoor B, Chardon M, Diego R (Eds.) Catfishes. Enfield, Science publisher Inc.). This family contains 15 genera and includes 89 species that occur in the freshwaters of Africa (13 genera, 74 species), Asia Minor (1 species, also present in Africa), and South East Asia (3 genera and 15 species) (Agnèse & Teugels 2005Agnèse J-F, Teugels GG (2005) Insight into the phylogeny of African Clariidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes): Implications for their body shape evolution, biogeography, and taxonomy. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36: 546-553. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03.028
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03....
). In Cameroonian freshwaters, 4 genera: Clarias Scopoli, 1777, Gymnallabes Günther, 1867, Heterobranchus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809, and Clariallabes Boulenger, 1900, represented by 13 species (Stiassny et al. 2007Stiassny MLJ, Teugels GG, Hopkins C (2007) Poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de basse Guinée, ouest de l'Afrique Centrale. Paris, MNHN-MRAC-IRD, vol. 1.), have been reported. Species of Clarias , the most speciose clariid genus (39 species) (Agnèse & Teugels 2005Agnèse J-F, Teugels GG (2005) Insight into the phylogeny of African Clariidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes): Implications for their body shape evolution, biogeography, and taxonomy. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36: 546-553. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03.028
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03....
), occur in two continents (Asia and Africa). Clarias spp. inhabit calm freshwaters such as lakes, streams, swamps and flood plains. Their accessory air breathing organs enable them to survive during the dry season (Bruton 1979Bruton MN (1979) The survival of habitat desiccation by air-breathing clariid catfishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 4: 273-280.). Moreover, their high growth rate, their resistance to handling and stress, their omnivorous diet, and their flesh, which is well appreciated in many African countries, give them a unique aquaculture value (Legendre et al. 1992Legendre M, Teugels GG, Cauty C, Jalabert B (1992) Comparative study on morphology, growth rate and reproduction of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), Heterobranchus longifilis Valenciennes, 1840, and their reciprocal hybrids (Pisces, Clariidae). Journal of Fish Biology 40: 59-79.).

Parasitism is a major threat to fish productivity, especially in aquaculture systems (Bilong Bilong et al. 1998Bilong Bilong CF, Tombi J, Nack J, Fomena A (1998) Les parasites peuvent-ils être une cause de réduction de la biodiversité des poissons? Biosciences Proceeding 5: 113-119.). Several studies have been carried out on the monogenean fauna of clariid species in Cameroon (Birgi 1988Birgi E (1988) Monogènes du genre Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961, parasites branchiaux de deux Siluridae (Teleostei) Clarias pachynema , Boulenger, 1903, et Clarias jaensis Boulenger, 1909 au Sud-Cameroun (description de 4 espèces nouvelles). Annales de la Faculté des Sciences de Yaoundé, Biologie-Biochimie III 5: 113-129., Nack et al. 2005Nack J, Bilong Bilong CF, Euzet L (2005) Monogènes parasites de Clariidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes) au Cameroun: I Description de deux nouvelles espèces du genre Gyrodactylus dans le bassin du Nyong. Parasite 12: 213-220. doi: 10.1051/parasite/2005123213
https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2005123...
, Bilong Bilong et al. 2007Bilong Bilong CF, Nack J, Euzet L (2007) Monogènes de Clarias (Siluriformes, Clariidae) au Cameroun: II. Description de trois nouvelles espèces du genre Birgiellus n. gen. (Dactylogyridea, Ancyrocephalidae) dans le bassin du Nyong. Parasite 14: 121-130. doi: 10.1051/parasite/2007142121
https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2007142...
, Nack & Bilong Bilong 2007Nack J, Bilong Bilong CF (2007) Biotope des ectoparasites branchiaux de Clarias camerunensis Lônnberg, 1895 (Pisces; Clariidae): Modèles de croissance de l'aire colonisable. Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences 7: 11-16.), but none has studied Clarias submarginatus Peter, 1882 a common food resource for local people. This study was conducted at lake Ossa (3°45'-3°51'N, 9°58'-0°03'E in Cameroon, Central Africa) situated 8 m above sea level and located 20 km to the west of the city of Edéa and 30 km from the Atlantic Ocean. According to Wirrmann (1992Wirrmann D (1992) Le Lac Ossa: une monographie préliminaire. Revue Géographique du Cameroun 11: 27-38.) and Wirrmann et al. (2001Wirrmann D, Bertaux J, Kossoni A (2001) Late Holocene paleoclimatic changes in western Central Africa inferred from mineral abundance in dated sediments from Lake Ossa (southwest Cameroon). Quaternary Research 56: 275-287.), the Lake Ossa system is composed of several subunits, with a total surface area of about 3,800 ha. The system consists of three main lakes: Mévia, located north; Ossa, at the middle; and Mwembé, in the South. Ossa and Mévia are the two largest within the system and communicate through a short channel, whereas Mwembé is isolated. In its southeastern part, Lake Ossa, communicates with the Sanaga River by a sinuous outlet (Nack et al. 2015Nack J, Bitja Nyom AR, Pariselle A, Bilong Bilong CF (2015) New evidence of a lateral transfer of monogenean parasite between distant fish hosts in Lake Ossa, South Cameroon: the case of Quadriacanthus euzeti n. sp. Journal of Helminthology 90: 455-459. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X15000577
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X1500057...
) (Fig. 1).

Figure 1
Map of Lake Ossa: (SM) Shore market, (EFM) Edéa fish market (modified from Nack et al. 2015Nack J, Bitja Nyom AR, Pariselle A, Bilong Bilong CF (2015) New evidence of a lateral transfer of monogenean parasite between distant fish hosts in Lake Ossa, South Cameroon: the case of Quadriacanthus euzeti n. sp. Journal of Helminthology 90: 455-459. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X15000577
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X1500057...
).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Specimens (n = 43) of C. submarginatus examined in this study were caught using gill nets, cast nets, fish-traps or hook lines by fishermen and were purchased on shore market (SM in Fig. 1) or at the Edéa fish market (EFM in Fig. 1). Fish were immediately placed in a cool box containing ice, and were transported to the laboratory, where they were frozen at -21°C. After thawing, gills arches were removed by dorsal and ventral sections, and placed in a Petri-dish containing tap water. The parasites were dislodged from the gill filaments with the aid of a dissection needle. The monogeneans were fixed between slides and cover slips into a drop of glycerin ammonium-picrate mixture (GAP) Malmberg (1957Malmberg G (1957) On the occurrence of Gyrodactylus on Swedish fishes. Skrifter utgivna av Södra Sveriges Fiskeriföreningen: 19-76.). After 24 hours the preparations were sealed using nail varnish. Specimen's identification, based on the morphology and the size of sclerotized pieces of the haptor and the copulatory complex, followed Kritsky & Kulo (1988Kritsky DC, Kulo S-D (1988) The African species of Quadriacanthus with proposal of Quadriacanthoides gen. n. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae). Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 55: 175-187.), N'Douba et al. (1999N'Douba V, Lambert A, Euzet L (1999) Seven new species of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961 (Monogenea) from the gills of Heterobranchus longifilis and H . isopterus from the Ivory Coast, West Africa. Systematic Parasitology 44: 105-118.) and N'Douba & Lambert (2001N'Douba V, Lambert A (2001) Deux Monogènes nouveaux parasites branchiaux de Clarias ebriensis Pellegrin, 1920 (Siluriforme, Clariidae) en Côte d'Ivoire. Zoosystema 23: 411-416.). The measurements and drawings of the sclerotized pieces of the haptor and copulatory complex were made with the aid of microscope Leica DM 2500, LAS software (3.8) and Corel Draw X4(r) software, version 14.0.0.701. These measurements and the numbering of haptoral pieces were carried out based on N'Douba et al. (1999N'Douba V, Lambert A, Euzet L (1999) Seven new species of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961 (Monogenea) from the gills of Heterobranchus longifilis and H . isopterus from the Ivory Coast, West Africa. Systematic Parasitology 44: 105-118.) (Fig. 2). Measurements were given in micrometers as follows: average (minimum - maximum); the standard deviation is given when n ≥ 30. Types where deposited in the Musée Royal de l'Afrique Central (MRAC, Tervuren, Belgium).

Figure 2
Morphometrics of Quadriacanthus spp. used in this study are based on Gussev (1962Gussev AV (1962) Order Dactylogyridea, p. 204-342. In: Bychovskaya-Pavlovskaya IE, Gussev AV, Dubinina MN, Izymova NA, Smirnova TS, Sokolovskaya IL, Shtein GA, Shul'Man SS, Epsthein VM (Eds.) Key to the parasites of freshwater fish of the USSR. Jerusalem, Israel Program for Scientific Translations [Russian original: Opredelitel' parazitov presnovohnyh ryb SSSR. Moscow-Leningrad, Izadtel'stovo Akademii Nauk SSSR].) and modified by N'Douba et al. (1999N'Douba V, Lambert A, Euzet L (1999) Seven new species of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961 (Monogenea) from the gills of Heterobranchus longifilis and H . isopterus from the Ivory Coast, West Africa. Systematic Parasitology 44: 105-118.). (An) Anchor: (a) length, (ba) base width, (e) point length; (Cc) copulatory complex: (Ap) accessory piece length, (Pe) penis length; (Cn) cuneus: (j) length, (i) width; (Db) dorsal bar: (ct) centre length, (h) median process length, (w) width, (x) length, (H) hooklet length; (Vb) ventral bar: (w) width, (x) length, (Vg) vagina.

TAXONOMY

Class Monogenea Van Beneden, 1858

Dactylogyridea Bychowsky, 1937

Ancyrocephalidae Bychowsky, 1937

The anatomy of the new species described herein corresponds to the diagnosis of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961 given by Paperna (1961Paperna I (1961) Studies on the monogenetic trematodes in Israel. 3. Monogenetic trematodes of the Cyprinidae and Clariidae of the lake of Galilee. Bamidgeh 13: 14-29.), amended by Kritsky & Kulo (1988Kritsky DC, Kulo S-D (1988) The African species of Quadriacanthus with proposal of Quadriacanthoides gen. n. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae). Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 55: 175-187.) and used by Nack et al. (2015Nack J, Bitja Nyom AR, Pariselle A, Bilong Bilong CF (2015) New evidence of a lateral transfer of monogenean parasite between distant fish hosts in Lake Ossa, South Cameroon: the case of Quadriacanthus euzeti n. sp. Journal of Helminthology 90: 455-459. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X15000577
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X1500057...
).

Quadriacanthus macruncus Bahanak, Nack & Pariselle, sp. nov.

Fig. 3

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2FE39BE9-F936-4BE4-A907-F8BDB8FEA566

Description (based on 9 specimens, all mounted in GAP): adults measure 428.3 (209.7-737.6) long, 83.4 (47.8-101.5) wide at level of ovary. Pharynx circular is 26. 9 (25.8-27.9) wide. Straight tubular penis widened at basal extremity and tapering at distal one, Pe = 28.7 (25.1-31.5) long. Accessory piece pointed, slightly curved and wider at median level, equipped with two subterminal, symmetrical and similar spines, Ap = 21.6 (18.1-23.3). Vagina not observed. Hooklets pair I = 12.9 (12.2-13.7), II = 12.9 (11.8-13.8), III = 13.6 (12.9-13.9), IV = 25.6 (24.9-26.7), V = 13.4 (12.4-14.3), VI = 14 (13.1-15.9), VII = 13.5 (12.9-14.1). Dorsal bar composed of developed rectangular centre, Ct = 24.7 (24.1-25.7), w = 9.1 5 (6.5-14.2) wide, with one median triangular process posteriorly directed, h = 10.2 (8.6-11.6), and two lateral expansions, x = 35.6 (33.6-37.1). Dorsal anchor with curved blade, reduced guard and short point, a = 38.3 (36.8-41.6), ba = 10.6 (9.3-11.7), e = 2.5 (1.9-3.1). Dorsal triangular cuneus (or patch), i = 3.6 (2.1-4.6), j = 9 (6.1-12.5). Ventral bar V-shaped, made up of two branches medially articulated, x = 46.3 (41.9-49.5) long, w = 6.5 (5.5-8) wide. Ventral anchor quite similar to dorsal one, a = 39.7 (37.3-41.5), ba = 9.2 (8.8-9.9), short point e = 3.9 (3.2-4.3). Slightly curved ventral cuneus with bilobed proximal extremity, i = 2.9 (2.2-3.9), j = 6.1 (4-7.5).

Figure 3
Sclerotized parts of Quadriacanthus macruncus sp. nov.: (Cc) copulatory complex, (Da) dorsal anchor, (Db) dorsal bar, (Dcn) dorsal cuneus, (H) hooklets, (Va) ventral anchor, (Vb) ventral bar, (Vcn) ventral cuneus, (Vg) vagina. Scale bar: 20 µm.

Type host. Clarias submarginatus Peter, 1882.

Site. Gills.

Type locality. Lake Ossa, Cameroon (3°45'-3°51'N, 9°58'-10°03'E).

Type specimens. Holotype deposited at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren): #37935. Paratype deposited at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren): #37936.

Parasitic indices. Prevalence = 18.2%, mean abundance = 0.2 ± 0.4.

Etymology. The specific name, macruncus , refers to the large size of the anchors of this species.

Remarks. The morphology of the male copulatory complex of Q. macruncus resembles Q. levequei Birgi, 1988 and Q. euzeti Nack, Pariselle & Bilong Bilong, 2015; Q. macruncus ) can be distinguished by its smaller size: (Pe = 25.1-31.5 vs 45-50, 36-40; Ap = 18.1-23.3 vs 30-35, 25-28), and by the morphology of the median process, directed posteriorly to the dorsal bar, triangular. This structure is in the shape of a stick in Q . levequei and a funnel in Q . euzeti .

Quadriacanthus ossaensis Bahanak, Nack & Pariselle, sp. nov.

Fig. 4

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:81837D50-AFB3-4C9A-AE61-073D2B42DE1A

Description (based on 33 specimens, all mounted in GAP): adults measure: 368 ± 86.8 (188.9-597.7) long, 65. 5 ± 16. 1 (33.7-98.9) wide at level of ovary). Pharynx circular is 21 (18-24) wide. Winding tubular penis, widened at basal extremity, regularly tapering to the distal one Pe = 28.2 ± 3.1 (23.9-32.4). Accessory piece, tubular, slightly arched and ending with two expansions: one fork shaped, the other one chevron shaped, Ap = 26.5 ± 2.9 (22-30.1). Tubular vagina, Vg = 24.9 ± 5 (20.9-30.6). Hooklets pair I = 13.5 ± 0.9 (11.7-15.4), II = 13.3 ± 0.8 (12-15.6), III = 14.3 ± 0.6 (12.1-15.7), IV = 24.8 ± 0.5 (23.8-25.7), V = 12.9 ± 0.7 (11.7-14.3), VI = 13.2 ± 0.8 (11.9-15), VII = 12.7 ± 0.8 (11-14.2). Dorsal bar composed of a developed trapezoidal centre, Ct = 17.4 ± 2.7 (14.5-21.9), w = 9.7 ± 0.8 (8.2-10.7) wide, with one posteriorly directed rectangular process, h = 8.6 ± 1.4 (7.1-9.9), and two lateral expansions, x = 20.4 ± 1.2 (18.9-22). Dorsal anchor without shaft, but with curved blade and short point, a = 28.3 ± 1.2 (26.9-30.8), ba = 9.1 ± 0.6 (8.1-9.8), e = 6.2 ± 1.2 (5.2-8.6), triangular dorsal cuneus (or patch) slightly curved, i = 5.2 ± 0.5 (4.8-5.8), j = 15.7 ± 0.6 (15-16.8). Ventral bar V-shaped, made up of two branches medially articulated, x = 32.6 ± 1.3 (30.4-36.2), w = 4.3 ± 0.5 (3.3-5.3), ventral anchor quite similar to dorsal one, a = 19.9 ± 1 (18.6-21.4), ba = 4.8 ± 0.3 (4.1-7.7), e = 9.8 ± 1.2 (7.7-12.1), triangular ventral cuneus, i = 2.4 ± 0.4 (1.6-3.3), j = 4.1 ± 0.7 (3.5-5.8).

Figure 4
Sclerotized parts of Quadriacanthus ossaensis sp. nov.: (Cc) copulatory complex, (Da) dorsal anchor, (Db) dorsal bar, (Dcn) dorsal cuneus, (H) hooklets, (Va) ventral anchor, (Vb) ventral bar, (Vcn) ventral cuneus, (Vg) vagina. Scale bar: 20 µm.

Type host. Clarias submarginatus Peter, 1882.

Site. Gills.

Type locality. Lake Ossa, Cameroon (3°45'-3°51'N, 9°58'-10°03'E).

Type specimens. Holotype deposited at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren): #37933. Paratype deposited at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren): #37934.

Materials studied. 43 host individuals and 33 monogeneans.

Parasitic indices. Prevalence = 81.8%, mean abundance = 4.4 ± 5.8.

Etymology. The specific name, ossaensis , refers to the type locality of this species.

Remarks. The morphologies of the penis and of the accessory piece of Q. ossaensis sp. nov. are similar to Quadriacanthus ayameensis N'Douba, Lambert & Euzet, 1999, a gill parasite of Heterobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes, 1840) and Heterobranchus isopterus Bleeker, 1863 in the rivers Bia, Agnéby and in Lake Ayamé (Ivory Coast). Quadriacanthus ossaensis can be distinguished from Q. ayameensis species by having one tip of the distal end of the accessory piece shaped as a fork, by the size of the dorsal cuneus (patch) (i = 2.5-7 vs 7-10, j = 13.8-18 vs 8-11), the trapezoid shape of the central sclerite of the dorsal bar, and the shape (thin and twisted) of the branches of the ventral bars.

Quadriacanthus submarginati Bahanak, Nack & Pariselle sp. nov.

Fig. 5

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:423B9D06-68FA-4424-86F6-4D532D7075F4

Description (based on 22 specimens, all mounted in GAP): adults measure 399.6 (250.6-572.3) length, 63.8 (11.6-113.6) wide at level of ovary. Pharynx circular is 21.7 (20.2-21.6) wide. Penis wide-opened at basal extremity, tapering, bent and forked at the distal extremity, Pe = 29.7 (25.8-31.6). Accessory piece tubular, slightly curved, with a complex structure made up of one long tip flanked by a short tip and by a bulb, Ap = 21.8 (19.2-25.8). Tubular curved vagina, slim and slightly sclerotized at basal zone, and connected to a large seminal receptacle which opens near vaginal pore, Vg = 26.9 (25.3-32.1). Hooklets pair I = 13.7 (12.7-14.7), II = 14 (12.9-14.7), III = 14.3 (12.5-15.7), IV = 21.1 (19.7-24.3), V = 13.6 (12.3-14.8), VI = 14.1(12.5-15.1), VII = 14.1 (11.7-15.7). Dorsal bar with a rectangular centre, Ct = 19.1 (16.7-23.3), w = 8.5 (6-11.5) wide, a median posteriorly directed triangular process, h = 5.3 (4-6.5), and two lateral expansions, x = 29.2 (26.4-32.9), dorsal anchor lacking shaft, but with reduced guard, curved blade at distal region and mean point, a = 32.7 (30-34.7), ba = 9.1 (7.7-10), e = 8.4 (6.1-9.7), triangular and slightly curved dorsal cuneus (or patch), i = 3.5 (2.1-3.1), j = 6.3 (5.1-7.1), ventral bar made up of two branches medially articulated, x = 43 (37.9-47.7), w = 5.5 (3.5-7.6), ventral anchor without shaft, but with reduced guard, curved blade, and with long point, a = 24.7 (22.8-26.9), ba = 5.8 (5.1-6.3), e = 10.8 (8-11.7), ventral cuneus (or patch) smaller than dorsal one, i = 1.7(1.2-2), j = 3.8 (4.6-4.9).

Figure 5
Sclerotized parts of Quadriacanthus submarginati sp. nov.: (Cc) copulatory complex, (Da) dorsal anchor, (Db) dorsal bar, (Dcn) dorsal cuneus, (H) hooklets, (Va) ventral anchor, (Vb) ventral bar, (Vcn) ventral cuneus, (Vg) vagina, (SR) seminal receptacle. Scale bar: 20 µm.

Type host. Clarias submarginatus Peter, 1882.

Site. Gills.

Type locality. Lake Ossa, Cameroon (3°45'-3°51'N, 9°58'-10°03'E).

Type specimens. Holotype deposited at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren): #37937. Paratype deposited at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren): #37938.

Materials studied. 43 host individuals and 22 monogeneans.

Parasitic indices. Prevalence = 45.5%, mean abundance = 2.8 ± 3.8.

Etymology. The specific name, submarginati refers to specific name of the host.

Remarks. This species is close to Q . macruncus sp. nov. in the morphology of the dorsal and ventral bars, dorsal and ventral anchors; it differs from it in the morphology of the copulatory complex and the size of the point of its dorsal (e = 6.1-9.7 vs 1.9-3.1) and ventral (e = 8-11.7 vs 3.2-4.3) anchors.

DISCUSSION

This is the first record of C. submarginatus in the Sanaga basin, precisely at Lake Ossa. Up to now, this fish species was recorded in the rivers Kienké (at Kribi), Lobé (misspelled Lobi) and Ntem (in Cameroon), Komo and Ogôoué (in Gabon) (Stiassny et al. 2007Stiassny MLJ, Teugels GG, Hopkins C (2007) Poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de basse Guinée, ouest de l'Afrique Centrale. Paris, MNHN-MRAC-IRD, vol. 1.).

In Cameroon, only two studies by Birgi (1988Birgi E (1988) Monogènes du genre Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961, parasites branchiaux de deux Siluridae (Teleostei) Clarias pachynema , Boulenger, 1903, et Clarias jaensis Boulenger, 1909 au Sud-Cameroun (description de 4 espèces nouvelles). Annales de la Faculté des Sciences de Yaoundé, Biologie-Biochimie III 5: 113-129.) and Nack et al. (2015Nack J, Bitja Nyom AR, Pariselle A, Bilong Bilong CF (2015) New evidence of a lateral transfer of monogenean parasite between distant fish hosts in Lake Ossa, South Cameroon: the case of Quadriacanthus euzeti n. sp. Journal of Helminthology 90: 455-459. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X15000577
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X1500057...
) have been conducted on Quadriacanthus species. They resulted in the description of five species: Quadriacanthus levequei from Clarias pachynema Boulenger, 1903; Quadriacanthus dageti Birgi, 1988 from C . jaensis Boulenger, 1909, and Quadriacanthus nyongensis Birgi, 1988 and Quadriacanthus teugelsi Birgi, 1988 from C. pachynema and C . jaensis (Nyong basin); and Q . euzeti from Papyrocranus afer Günther, 1868 (Notopteridae) in Lake Ossa (Sanaga basin). Monogenean parasites are known for their narrow host specificity (Euzet & Combes 1980Euzet L, Combe C (1980) Les problèmes de l'espèce chez les animaux parasites. Mémoire de la Société Zoologique de France 40: 239-285., Noble et al. 1989Noble E, Noble GA, Schad GA, Macinnes AJ (1989) Parasitology: The biology of animal parasites. Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger, 6th ed.); even so lateral transfers have happened numerous times in lakes, most likely promoted by ecological and ethological changes (Combes 1990Combes C (1990) Rencontre, identification, installation dans le cycle des métazoaires parasites. Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 115: 99-105., Norton & Carpenter 1998Norton DA, Carpenter MA (1998) Mistletoes as parasites: host specificity and speciation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 13: 101-105. doi: 10.1016/S0169-5347(97)01243-3
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(97)01...
). For example in Lake Ossa where Quadriacanthus euzeti was recently described on a host belonging to Osteoglossiformes (see above), when Quadriacanthus spp. are specific of Clarias , Heterobranchus and Bagrus fishes (Nack et al. 2015Nack J, Bitja Nyom AR, Pariselle A, Bilong Bilong CF (2015) New evidence of a lateral transfer of monogenean parasite between distant fish hosts in Lake Ossa, South Cameroon: the case of Quadriacanthus euzeti n. sp. Journal of Helminthology 90: 455-459. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X15000577
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X1500057...
); the same is true for Scutogyrus vanhoveiPariselle, Bitja Nyom & Bilong Bilong, 2013Pariselle A, Bitja Nyom AR, Bilong Bilong CF (2013) Checklist of the ancyrocephalids (Monogenea) parasitizing Tilapia species in Cameroon, with the description of three new species. Zootaxa 3599: 78-86. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3599.1.7
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3599.1....
described on Tilapia mariae in the same lake, while Scutogyrus spp. were only known from Sarotherodon and Oreochromis hosts species (Pariselle et al. 2013Pariselle A, Bitja Nyom AR, Bilong Bilong CF (2013) Checklist of the ancyrocephalids (Monogenea) parasitizing Tilapia species in Cameroon, with the description of three new species. Zootaxa 3599: 78-86. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3599.1.7
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3599.1....
).

In this context of variable specificity according to ecological conditions, it would be interesting to determine the range of the host spectrum of Quadriacanthus species from Clarias pachynema , C . jaensis , P. afer and the newly studied C. submarginatus in the Lake Ossa system, where these fish are sympatric (Stiassny et al. 2007Stiassny MLJ, Teugels GG, Hopkins C (2007) Poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de basse Guinée, ouest de l'Afrique Centrale. Paris, MNHN-MRAC-IRD, vol. 1.).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to thank A.R. Bitja Nyom for his technical advice in the host identification, and MM. A.P. Ebbah, N. Yomba, Sok Nguimbat, and N. Biname for their assistance during the fieldwork.

LITERATURE CITED

  • Agnèse J-F, Teugels GG (2005) Insight into the phylogeny of African Clariidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes): Implications for their body shape evolution, biogeography, and taxonomy. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36: 546-553. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03.028
    » https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03.028
  • Bilong Bilong CF, Nack J, Euzet L (2007) Monogènes de Clarias (Siluriformes, Clariidae) au Cameroun: II. Description de trois nouvelles espèces du genre Birgiellus n. gen. (Dactylogyridea, Ancyrocephalidae) dans le bassin du Nyong. Parasite 14: 121-130. doi: 10.1051/parasite/2007142121
    » https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2007142121
  • Bilong Bilong CF, Tombi J, Nack J, Fomena A (1998) Les parasites peuvent-ils être une cause de réduction de la biodiversité des poissons? Biosciences Proceeding 5: 113-119.
  • Birgi E (1988) Monogènes du genre Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961, parasites branchiaux de deux Siluridae (Teleostei) Clarias pachynema , Boulenger, 1903, et Clarias jaensis Boulenger, 1909 au Sud-Cameroun (description de 4 espèces nouvelles). Annales de la Faculté des Sciences de Yaoundé, Biologie-Biochimie III 5: 113-129.
  • Bruton MN (1979) The survival of habitat desiccation by air-breathing clariid catfishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 4: 273-280.
  • Combes C (1990) Rencontre, identification, installation dans le cycle des métazoaires parasites. Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 115: 99-105.
  • Euzet L, Combe C (1980) Les problèmes de l'espèce chez les animaux parasites. Mémoire de la Société Zoologique de France 40: 239-285.
  • Gussev AV (1962) Order Dactylogyridea, p. 204-342. In: Bychovskaya-Pavlovskaya IE, Gussev AV, Dubinina MN, Izymova NA, Smirnova TS, Sokolovskaya IL, Shtein GA, Shul'Man SS, Epsthein VM (Eds.) Key to the parasites of freshwater fish of the USSR. Jerusalem, Israel Program for Scientific Translations [Russian original: Opredelitel' parazitov presnovohnyh ryb SSSR. Moscow-Leningrad, Izadtel'stovo Akademii Nauk SSSR].
  • Kritsky DC, Kulo S-D (1988) The African species of Quadriacanthus with proposal of Quadriacanthoides gen. n. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae). Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 55: 175-187.
  • Legendre M, Teugels GG, Cauty C, Jalabert B (1992) Comparative study on morphology, growth rate and reproduction of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), Heterobranchus longifilis Valenciennes, 1840, and their reciprocal hybrids (Pisces, Clariidae). Journal of Fish Biology 40: 59-79.
  • Malmberg G (1957) On the occurrence of Gyrodactylus on Swedish fishes. Skrifter utgivna av Södra Sveriges Fiskeriföreningen: 19-76.
  • Nack J, Bilong Bilong CF (2007) Biotope des ectoparasites branchiaux de Clarias camerunensis Lônnberg, 1895 (Pisces; Clariidae): Modèles de croissance de l'aire colonisable. Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences 7: 11-16.
  • Nack J, Bilong Bilong CF, Euzet L (2005) Monogènes parasites de Clariidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes) au Cameroun: I Description de deux nouvelles espèces du genre Gyrodactylus dans le bassin du Nyong. Parasite 12: 213-220. doi: 10.1051/parasite/2005123213
    » https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2005123213
  • Nack J, Bitja Nyom AR, Pariselle A, Bilong Bilong CF (2015) New evidence of a lateral transfer of monogenean parasite between distant fish hosts in Lake Ossa, South Cameroon: the case of Quadriacanthus euzeti n. sp. Journal of Helminthology 90: 455-459. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X15000577
    » https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X15000577
  • N'Douba V, Lambert A (2001) Deux Monogènes nouveaux parasites branchiaux de Clarias ebriensis Pellegrin, 1920 (Siluriforme, Clariidae) en Côte d'Ivoire. Zoosystema 23: 411-416.
  • N'Douba V, Lambert A, Euzet L (1999) Seven new species of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961 (Monogenea) from the gills of Heterobranchus longifilis and H . isopterus from the Ivory Coast, West Africa. Systematic Parasitology 44: 105-118.
  • Noble E, Noble GA, Schad GA, Macinnes AJ (1989) Parasitology: The biology of animal parasites. Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger, 6th ed.
  • Norton DA, Carpenter MA (1998) Mistletoes as parasites: host specificity and speciation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 13: 101-105. doi: 10.1016/S0169-5347(97)01243-3
    » https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(97)01243-3
  • Paperna I (1961) Studies on the monogenetic trematodes in Israel. 3. Monogenetic trematodes of the Cyprinidae and Clariidae of the lake of Galilee. Bamidgeh 13: 14-29.
  • Pariselle A, Bitja Nyom AR, Bilong Bilong CF (2013) Checklist of the ancyrocephalids (Monogenea) parasitizing Tilapia species in Cameroon, with the description of three new species. Zootaxa 3599: 78-86. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3599.1.7
    » https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3599.1.7
  • Stiassny MLJ, Teugels GG, Hopkins C (2007) Poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de basse Guinée, ouest de l'Afrique Centrale. Paris, MNHN-MRAC-IRD, vol. 1.
  • Teugels GG, Adriaens D (2003) Taxonomy and phylogeny of Clariidae: an overview, p. 465-487. In: Arratia G, Kapoor B, Chardon M, Diego R (Eds.) Catfishes. Enfield, Science publisher Inc.
  • Wirrmann D (1992) Le Lac Ossa: une monographie préliminaire. Revue Géographique du Cameroun 11: 27-38.
  • Wirrmann D, Bertaux J, Kossoni A (2001) Late Holocene paleoclimatic changes in western Central Africa inferred from mineral abundance in dated sediments from Lake Ossa (southwest Cameroon). Quaternary Research 56: 275-287.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    2016

History

  • Received
    03 Mar 2016
  • Reviewed
    13 May 2016
  • Accepted
    14 June 2016
Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia Caixa Postal 19020, 81531-980 Curitiba PR Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 41) 3266-6823 - Curitiba - PR - Brazil
E-mail: sbz@sbzoologia.org.br