An alien parasite affects local fauna—Confirmation of Sinergasilus major (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) switching hosts and infecting native Silurus glanis (Actinopterygii: Siluridae) in Hungary. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dos Santos, Quinton Marco; Avenant-Oldewage, Annemariè; Piasecki, Wojciech; Molnár, Kálmán; Sellyei, Boglárka; Székely, Csaba
• Is Part Of: International journal for parasitology. Volume 15(2021)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 131
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Copepoda -- Biological invasion -- Wels catfish -- Parasites -- Danube river basin -- Pathology; Parasites -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Animals -- Periodicals; Wildlife diseases -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Animals, Wild -- Periodicals; Animals; Parasites; Parasitology; Wildlife diseases; Periodicals; 591.7857
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.04.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-2244

Abstract

Abstract: In 2016, an intense copepod infection was recorded from a reservoir in proximity to the Danube River in Hungary from visibly emaciated wels catfish, Silurus glanis . The parasite-induced pathology was described but parasite identity was not conclusive. Additional sample collections in 2017 and 2018 allowed for identification using both light and scanning electron microscopy, alongside genetic characterisation. The copepods were confirmed to be ergasilids, Sinergasilus major, distinctly different from any previous infection on silurids in Europe. This is the first record of this parasite from Hungary and the first host record from wels catfish. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: First record of Sinergasilus major from wels catfish ( Silurus glanis ). First record of S. major from Hungary. Light and scanning eletron microscopy support identification of S. major. 100% similarity of the 18S rDNA provides significant confidence to the identification of the copepods as S. major.