Endoparasites of Gymnotus sp. (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae) from commercial baitfish farming in Pantanal basin, central Brazil

Abstract

This study evaluated the endohelminthic parasites of native baitfish Gymnotus spp. collected from different baitfish farming in the Pantanal basin, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Central Brazil. From 99 fish collected for parasitological analysis, all of them were found to be parasitized by at least 1 parasite per host. A total of 4504 parasites were collected comprising the following taxa: Digenea, Nematoda, Pentastomida and Acanthocephala. Rondonia rondoni and Goezia sp. as well as Alofia sp. Were registered for the first time in farmed Gymnotus spp. The parasite species diversity in the host is discussed in this study.