Neobenedenia melleni (Monogenea: Capsalidae) in ornamental reef fish imported to Brazil

Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2019 Jan-Mar;28(1):157-160. doi: 10.1590/S1984-296120180076. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Abstract

The capsalid monogenean Neobenedenia melleni is known as a lethal pathogen for captured marine teleost ornamental fish, if left untreated. This study reports the occurrence of N. melleni parasitizing four species of ornamental reef fish imported into Brazil and maintained in quarantine: Arabian angelfish (Pomacanthus asfur ), yellowbar angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus), regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus), and bluecheek butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus). Ten days after the beginning of quarantine, some fish showed behavioral alterations, such as irritability, and corneal opacity, which were rapidly diagnosed to be caused by monogenean parasites by body surface scraping. The fish from the same batch were treated with two applications of 2 mg L-1 praziquantel each at an interval of four days. Seven days after the first treatment, the mucus surface of the fish was re-examined, which did not reveal the parasites presence being delivered for commercialization.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage*
  • Brazil
  • Cestode Infections / diagnosis
  • Cestode Infections / drug therapy
  • Cestode Infections / veterinary*
  • Fish Diseases / diagnosis
  • Fish Diseases / drug therapy
  • Fish Diseases / parasitology*
  • Fishes / classification
  • Fishes / parasitology*
  • Platyhelminths / isolation & purification*
  • Praziquantel / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Praziquantel