Monogeneans on exotic Indian freshwater fish. 8. Co-translocation of Cichlidogyrus tilapiae (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) with pindani Chindongo socolofi (Cichliformes, Cichlidae): first report of this parasite genus in India within aquarium trade facilities

Abstract

The pindani, Chindongo socolofi (Cichliformes, Cichlidae) is a popular freshwater ornamental fish from Lake Malawi in Africa. Although identifying parasites associated with the global ornamental fish trade is critical for developing biosecurity practices, little is known about the parasite fauna of C. socolofi. Therefore, this study sought to determine what monogenean parasites C. socolofi harbours in India. Adult specimens of this host species were collected from various aquarium shops across the country between 2020 and 2022, and their gills were subjected to parasitological examination. Monogeneans were detected in five host specimens (22.7%) with low mean intensities (6.2 +/- 3.8). They were identified as Cichlidogyrus tilapiae (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) based on the presence of the following morphometric characteristics: two pairs of anchors, two auricles on the dorsal bar, a V-shaped ventral bar, and an accessory piece with a folded rim and a bent bifurcated tip. The morphological identification was confirmed by the sequence analysis of the specimen's 18S-ITS1 gene regions and 28S rRNA genes to C. tilapiae from Paratilapia polleni (Cichliformes, Cichlidae) in Madagascar. This article is the first report on a species of Cichlidogyrus in India, found in aquarium shops, contributing to the growing list of known freshwater monogeneans that are being distributed globally via the ornamental fish trade. Additionally, it adds a new host species (C. socolofi) and geographic location (India, within aquarium trade) to the existing knowledge of C. tilapiae, a widespread and often co-introduced tropical fish parasite. Le pindani, Chindongo socolofi (Cichliformes, Cichlidae), est un poisson d'ornement d'eau douce populaire originaire du lac Malawi, en Afrique. Bien que l'identification des parasites associ & eacute;s au commerce mondial des poissons d'ornement soit essentielle au d & eacute;veloppement de pratiques de bios & eacute;curit & eacute;, on sait peu de choses sur la faune parasitaire de C. socolofi. Par cons & eacute;quent, cette & eacute;tude visait & agrave; d & eacute;terminer quels monog & egrave;nes parasites C. socolofi h & eacute;berge en Inde. Des sp & eacute;cimens adultes de cette esp & egrave;ce h & ocirc;te ont & eacute;t & eacute; collect & eacute;s dans divers magasins d'aquariophilie du pays entre 2020 et 2022, et leurs branchies ont & eacute;t & eacute; soumises & agrave; un examen parasitologique. Des monog & egrave;nes ont & eacute;t & eacute; d & eacute;tect & eacute;s chez cinq sp & eacute;cimens h & ocirc;tes (22,7 %) avec de faibles intensit & eacute;s moyennes (6,2 +/- 3,8). Ils ont & eacute;t & eacute; identifi & eacute;s comme Cichlidogyrus tilapiae (Monogenea : Dactylogyridae) gr & acirc;ce & agrave; la pr & eacute;sence des caract & eacute;ristiques morphom & eacute;triques suivantes : deux paires d'ancres, deux auricules sur la barre dorsale, une barre ventrale en V et une pi & egrave;ce accessoire avec un bord recourb & eacute; et une extr & eacute;mit & eacute; bifurqu & eacute;e et courb & eacute;e. L'identification morphologique a & eacute;t & eacute; confirm & eacute;e par l'analyse de la s & eacute;quence des r & eacute;gions du g & egrave;ne 18S-ITS1 et des g & egrave;nes de l'ARNr 28S du sp & eacute;cimen de C. tilapiae de Paratilapia polleni (Cichliformes, Cichlidae) & agrave; Madagascar. Cet article est le premier rapport sur la pr & eacute;sence d'une esp & egrave;ce de Cichlidogyrus en Inde, dans des aquariums, et contribue & agrave; compl & eacute;ter la liste croissante des monog & egrave;nes d'eau douce connus et introduits dans le monde entier via le commerce des poissons d'ornement. De plus, il ajoute une nouvelle esp & egrave;ce h & ocirc;te (C. socolofi) et une nouvelle localisation g & eacute;ographique (l'Inde, dans des magasins d'aquariophilie) aux connaissances existantes sur C. tilapiae, un parasite r & eacute;pandu et souvent co-introduit chez les poissons tropicaux.