Publication details
Onchocleidus dispar (Mueller, 1936) (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalinae) on the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in South Africa: a transcontinental traveller
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | The largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802) is an alien invasive species in South Africa (SA) that was introduced into the country in 1928 from England. Interestingly, these fish were originally bred in Holland. Following introduction it was stocked for angling throughout SA. In North America, its native range, M. salmoides host several monogenean species. The aim of this study was thus to determine whether any of these monogeneans were introduced via its hosts into SA. Micropterus salmoides were collected during October 2014 from Boskop Dam, North-West Province, SA and screened for gill monogeneans. High prevalence (100%) as well as intensity of infections (up to 400 parasites per host) was found, without noticeable signs of pathological changes to the gills. Based on the morphometrics of the hard structures of the attachment organs, these monogeneans were identified as Onchocleidus dispar (Mueller, 1936). South African specimens were also compared with specimens of O. dispar previously found on Lepomis gibbosus L., 1758 from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Croatia. Molecular characterization of 18S and 28S regions of rRNA confirmed identification at the genus level as the only closest hit in the nucleotide database was Onchocleidus similis Mueller, 1936. This is the first time that this parasite has been confirmed from Africa and it’s evident that it has been introduced to South Africa with its host. More research should focus on the distribution of this parasite in other localities in order to manage its potential risk as invasive parasites of native fish. |
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