An overview of the Gyrodactylus (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) species parasitizing African catfishes, and their morphological and molecular diversity
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2012 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Parasitology Research |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2612-0 |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Gyrodactylus; new species; Clariidae; Mochokidae; rDNA; Africa |
| Description | An overview of Gyrodactylus infecting catfishes from the African continent is provided, including new data from Sudan, Senegal, Kenya and Mozambique. Haptoral sclerite morphometry and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences revealed the presence of eight Gyrodactylus species. On Senegalese Synodontis nigrita, Gyrodactylus synodonti n. sp. and G. nigritae n. sp. are described. These are the first reports of gyrodactylid parasites from mochokid hosts. From the fins of North African catfish Clarias gariepinus collected in Mozambique, G. alekosi n. sp. and G. rysavyi were identified. Gyrodactylus rysavyi was also reported from Kenyan C. gariepinus and Senegalese C. anguillaris. From the fins of C. anguillaris studied in Senegal, two more species, G. transvaalensis and G. gelnari n. sp. were recognised. In addition, G. turkanaensis n. sp. from the gills of Kenyan C. gariepinus was described and an undescribed Gyrodactylus sp. was recorded from Sudanese representatives of the same host. Detailed morphometrical and molecular comparisons of the species are presented and discussed. The study highlights the hitherto understudied diversity of viviparous monogenean parasites throughout Africa |
| Related projects: |