Parasites of invasive fish in aquatic environments of the Mexican Caribbean and southeastern Mexico
Keywords:
invasive fish, parasite diversity, Pterygoplichthys pardalis , P. disjunctivus , Pterois volitans , southeastern MexicoAbstract
Fish species introduced outside their natural distribution can negatively affect aquatic ecosystems and native biodiversity. This study analyzed the parasitic fauna of three invasive fish species from wild environments in Mexico: the armored catfishes Pterygoplichthys pardalis and P. disjunctivus (native to South America), and the red lionfish Pterois volitans (native to the Indo-Pacific). These species, recognized as global invaders, have caused ecological and economic losses in Mexico, yet little is known about their parasitic fauna or potential transmission to native or human hosts. A total of 241 specimens of P. pardalis, 121 of P. disjunctivus, and 120 of P. volitans were collected from various localities in southeastern Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean over five years. In P. pardalis, four parasite species were identified: the monogeneans Heteropriapulus heterotylus and Urocleidoides vaginoclaustrum, the trematode Clinostomum marginatum, and the protozoan Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, whereas P. disjunctivus harbored only H. heterotylus. In P. volitans, monogeneans, trematodes, cestodes, nematodes, and parasitic crustaceans were recorded. The low parasite richness observed agrees with reports from other invaded regions, supporting the Enemy Release Hypothesis. None of the identified parasite species represent a risk to human health, providing relevant information for control strategies and sustainable management of these invasive species.
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