Farmed fingerlings of South American catfish are frequently exposed to several parasites, but little information is available for implementing health programs for control and prevention of parasitic diseases in the hatcheries. This study evaluated the parasitic fauna of cachara catfish fingerlings (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum Eingenmann & Eigenmann, 1889) and the hostparasite relationship during the early stages of rearing. A total of 302 cachara fingerlings were used for parasitic diagnosis and histopathological analysis. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Trichodina heterodentata were diagnosed as the most prevalent parasites, followed by Cryptobia sp., Henneguya sp., Monogenea and Nematoda. There was a positive correlation between the size of the fish and the mean intensity of parasitism by I. multifiliis. Proliferation of mucus cells, club cells, multifocal area of degeneration, e...

This study evaluated the ectoparasite distribution on the gill archs of pond-reared pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicusHolmberg, 1887), hybrid patinga (P. mesopotamicusfemale x P. brachypomus(Cuvier, 1817) male), hybrid tambacu (Colossoma macropomum(Cuvier, 1816) female x P. mesopotamicus male) and hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatumfemale x P. corruscansSpix & Agassiz, 1829 male). Atotal of 300 fish were examined from fish farms in West-Central Brazil for parasitological assessment of the gill arches I, II, III and IV, from the outer to inner arch, respectively. Only the monogenean Mymarothecium boegeriCohen & Kohn, 2005 and Anacanthorus penilabiatusBoeger, Husak & Martins, 1995 from the hybrid patinga showed the greatest (p<0.05) mean intensities on the gill arch I when compared to gill arch IV. Microhabitat preference was not observed in the other fish examined. Cope...