Record of Pseudomyicola spinosus in cultured Perna perna From Southern Brazil

Abstract

The Copepoda Pseudomyicola spinosus was identified infecting culture of Perna perna mussels from Palhoça, Florianópolis, Governador Celso Ramos and Penha municipalities of Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Adult stage of the parasite was observed in the mantle cavity, with higher prevalence and infestation rate in mussels from Florianópolis (3.33 and 1.08% respectively). Nauplius phases of the copepod were observed in the digestive gland, gonad and gill of mussels, with highest prevalence in mussels from Penha (17.78%) and highest infestation rate from Palhoça (1.19). The analysis showed that the highest prevalence of adult phases of the copepod occurred in the autumn (2.22%) while nauplius phases were prevalent in summer (16.67%). Even in situations of higher prevalence and infestation, no histopathological evidence of damage to host was found.