Systematics and host-parasite interaction of parasites of the phylum Myxozoa in fishes economically important in Amazon Basin

Abstract

In natural environment and fish farms, fishes are host of several species of parasite, which can cause important pathogens. Among these parasites, the myxosporeans, due to the great diversity and great pathogenic potential of some species, has been receiving increasing attention from researchers in various regions of the world. So far, are known more than 2,300 species of myxosporean, the vast majority of which infects fish, and some species are responsible for high mortality rates in various parts of the world. The aim of this project is to study the diversity and host-parasite interaction of the phylum Myxozoa parasites of economically important Amazonian fishes in the area of ornamental fish (Paracheirodon axelroldi [cardinal] Paracheirodon innesi [néon], Carnegiella strigata [borboleta], Corydoras spp. [coridora] and Symphysodon discus [acara disco]) and fishes species important to the food market (Colossoma macropomum [tambaqui], Piaractus brachypomum [pirapitinga], Prochilodus nigricans [curimatã], Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii [dourada], Brachyplatystoma filamentousum [piraíba], Pseudoplatystoma spp. [cachara e caparari], Phractocephalus hemioliopterus [pirarara] e (Leiarius marmoratus) [jundiá da Amazônia]). The fish will be caught in natural environment, but in the case of species that already are farmed, specimens will also be examined from fish farms. The study of host-parasite interaction will be done by ultrastructural and histopathological analyzes. The taxonomic study will be conducted by morphological analysis by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and, molecular analysis, by sequencing the 18S rDNA gene. The sampling of the ornamental fishes will be caught in the region of Manaus, AM and the fishes of important to the food market will be caught in the region of Santarém, PA. (AU)