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Neobenedenia melleni from reef ornamental fish species in a retailer of Southeastern Brazil and its possible role as a mechanical vector of bacterial infection.

Authors :
Cardoso PHM
Relvas RS
de C Balian S
Poor AP
Moreno AM
Moreno LZ
Barbosa MRF
Sato MIZ
Furtado WE
Martins ML
Source :
Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology [J Parasit Dis] 2022 Mar; Vol. 46 (1), pp. 1-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Aug 02.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Annually, more than 2500 ornamental fish species are traded worldwide. Forty percent of these are from marine water. Some 98% of marine species are wild-caught from their natural habitat, and the majority subsequently exported. Wild fish frequently carry pathogens, which could induce diseases after the stress of capture. Neobenedenia melleni is a platyhelminth that mainly attaches to the skin and eyes of the host. It provokes dermal inflammation, epidermal loss, skin depigmentation, reduction in the number of mucous cells, and, consequently, decreased mucus protection, and declining immunological barriers. This makes fish susceptible to secondary infections. A total of 47 wild reef fish from a retailer were examined, suspected to be infected with ectoparasites. The morphological identification revealed N. melleni as a monogenean agent. One monogenean specimen was collected from the eye of each of the 40 fish analyzed to evaluate possible bacterial secondary infections using the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technique. The MALDI-TOF MS identified that 59% of monogenean collected from the eyes had bacteria, including some pathogenic to fish. This led us to believe that the ectoparasite can be a possible mechanical vector of pathogenic bacteria for fish culture and maintenance. The use of praziquantel as an antiparasitic agent is also discussed.<br />Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.<br /> (© Indian Society for Parasitology 2021.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0971-7196
Volume :
46
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
35299920
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-021-01430-w