Parasites of Barbus species (Cyprinidae) of southern Africa

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2015-07
Authors
Swanepoel, Pieter Johannes
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The fish family Cyprinidae is represented by eight genera and 80 species in southern African rivers, consisting of a few large fish genera of the genus Labeo Ruppëll, 1836 and the yellow fish species Labeobarbus Cuvier, 1817. The majority of the cyprinids are, however, small e.g. Barbus Cuvier & Cloquet, 1816. Many species are endemic, often restricted to a single river, endangered and at least two species are critically endangered. This study focused on the parasite diversity of Barbus in southern Africa. Fish parasitological surveys were conducted within the Orange-Vaal, Pongola and Okavango River systems. During the study 23 different parasite species were identified from 18 Barbus fish species. These parasites belong to different parasite groups, i.e. Ciliophora Doflein, 1901, Myxozoa Grassé, 1970, Monogenea (Van Beneden, 1858), Cestoda and Trematoda Rudolphi, 1808. Two possible new myxozoans, three monogeneans and two cestodes, with one of the latter possibly new a genus, were found. The results showed low intensities of infections and no obvious pathology was observed in the infected fish. Parasites normally have little negative impact on their hosts under natural conditions, but the knowledge gathered is widely recognised for the ornamental fish trade and for the contribution to biological diversity. This study contributes to the biodiversity, taxonomy, distribution and abundance of the symbionts found associated with Barbus species.
Afrikaans: Die vis verteenwoordigers van die familie Cyprinidae bestaan uit agt genera en 80 spesies in suidelike-Afrika se rivierstelsels wat uit ‘n paar groter visspesies van die genus Labeo Ruppëll, 1836 en die geelvis genus Labeobarbus Cuvier, 1817 bestaan. Die meerderheid van die verteenwoordigers van Cyprinidae is egter klein en behoort aan die genus Barbus Cuvier & Cloquet, 1816. Baie van hierdie kleiner spesies is endemies, soms beperk tot ‘n enkele rivier, bedreig en ten minste twee spesies is krities bedreig. Die studie fokus op die parasietdiversiteit van die genus Barbus in suidelike-Afrika. Visparasietopnames is in die Oranje-Vaal, Pongola en Okavangorivierstelsels uitgevoer. Tydens die studie is 23 verskillende parasiete van 18 Barbus visspesies geïdentifiseer. Die parasiete behoort aan verskillende parasietgroepe naamlik, Ciliophora Doflein, 1901, Myxozoa Grassé, 1970, Monogenea (Van Beneden, 1858), Cestoda & Trematoda Rudolphi, 1808. Twee moontlike nuwe verteenoordigers van die Myxozoa, drie Monogenea en twee Cestoda, waarvan laasgenoemde ‘n moontlike nuwe genus insluit, is geïdentifiseer. Die resultate het ‘n lae intensiteit van parasietbesmettings getoon, met geen duidelik sigbare patologiese effekte op geïnfekteerde gashere nie. Parasiete het gewoonlik ‘n baie klein negatiewe invloed op gashere onder natuurlike omstandighede en die inligting vanuit hierdie studie kan in die ornamentele visbedryf gebruik word. Die studie dra by tot die biologiese diversiteit, taksonomie, verspreiding en aantal simbionte wat geassosieer word met Barbus spesies in suidelike Afrika.
Description
Keywords
Dissertation (M.Sc. (Zoology and Entomology))--University of the Free State, 2015, Parasites, Fishes -- Parasites, Fishes -- Parasites -- Africa, Southern, Cyprinidae -- Africa, Southern
Citation