Scroll to Top

Volume : II, Issue : XI, December - 2012

A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE ECOLOGICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN GYRODACTYLUS RYSAVYI AND MACROGYRODACTYLUS CONGOLENSIS, VIVIPAROUS GYRODACTYLID MONOGENEANS FROM THE SKIN AND FINS OF THE NILE CATFISH CLARIAS GARIEPINUS

AHMED M. EL-NAGGAR

Published By : Laxmi Book Publication

Abstract :

A preliminary report has been given of the ecological interaction between two cohabitant viviparous gyrodactylid monogeneans, namely Gyrodactylus rysavyi Ergens, 1973 and Macrogyrodactylus congolensis (Prudhoe, 1957) Yamaguti, 1963, skin dwellers of the Nile catfish Clarias gariepinus. These monogeneans are very highly host specific and occupy a definite niche on the catfish host. They showed considerable morphological, ecological and behavioural variations. The small-sized G. rysavyi is a fast-growing species and attains a high reproductive potential. In contrast, the cohabitant, large-sized M. congolensis is a slow-growing species and attains a comparatively lower reproductive potential. While the attachment of M. congolensis is highly destructive to the niche, the footprint of G. rysavyi is less destructive. On the feral catfish population, these monogeneans typically survive at low prevalence, mean intensity and abundance, and tend to aggregate in restricted niches, namely the dorsal surface of the head region. In all experimental bispecific monogenean infestation trials, G. rysavyi outnumbered its rival, M. congolensis. However, in all monospecific monogenean infestation trials, each species exhibited an exponential growth followed by a dramatic decline and eventual disappearance from the catfish host population. The proximate and ultimate causes as well as the consequences of the ecological interaction between G. rysavyi and M. congolensis are discussed in detail.

Keywords :


Article :


Cite This Article :

AHMED M. EL-NAGGAR, (2012). A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE ECOLOGICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN GYRODACTYLUS RYSAVYI AND MACROGYRODACTYLUS CONGOLENSIS, VIVIPAROUS GYRODACTYLID MONOGENEANS FROM THE SKIN AND FINS OF THE NILE CATFISH CLARIAS GARIEPINUS. Indian Streams Research Journal, Vol. II, Issue. XI, http://oldisrj.lbp.world/UploadedData/1768.pdf

References :

  1. Anttila, P.; Romakkaniemi, A. Kuusela, J. and Koski, P. (2008). Epidemiology of Gyrodactylus salaris (Monogenea) in the River Tornionjoki, a Baltic wild salmon river. Journal of Fish Diseases, 31 (5): 373–382.
  2. Appleby, C.; Mo, T. A. and Aase, I. L. (1997). The effect of Gyrodactylus salaris (Monogenea) on the epidermis of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in the river Batnfjordselva, Norway. Journal of Parasitolology, 83: 1173-1174.
  3. Arafa, S. Z. (1999). Biological studies on some monogenean parasites of the teleost Clarias gariepinus in Dakahlia Province. Ph.D. Thesis, Faculty of Sciences, Mansoura University, Egypt.
  4. Arafa, S. Z.; El-Naggar, M. M. and Kearn, G. C. (2003). Scanning electron microscope observations on the monogenean skin parasite Macrogyrodactylus congolensis (Prudhoe, 1957) Yamaguti, 1963. Acta Parasitology, 48 (3): 163-171.
  5. Bakke, T. A.; Harris, P. D.; Jansen, P. A. and Hansen, L. P. (1992). Host specificity and dispersal strategy in gyrodactylid monogeneans, with particular reference to Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 13: 63-74.
  6. Bashirullah, A. K. M. and Rado, N. E. (1987). Co-occurrence of three species of Choricotyle (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) in the grunt Orthopristis ruber and their host-specificity. Journal of Fish Biology, 30 (4): 419–422.
  7. Bishai, H. M. and Khalil, M. T. (1997). Freshwater fishes of Egypt. Publication of the National Biodiversity Unit, No. 9, Department of Natural Protectorate, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency.
  8. Buchmann, K. (1988). Spatial distribution of Pseudodactylogyms anguillae and P. bini (Monogenea) on the gills of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. Journal of Fish Biology, 32 (5): 801-802.
  9. Buchmann, K. (1998). Histochemical characteristics of Gyrodactylus derjavini parasitizing the fins of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Folia Parasitologica, 45(4): 312-8
  10. Cable, J. and Harris, P. D. (2002). Gyrodactylid developmental biology: historical review, current status and future trends. International Journal for Parasitology, 32: 255-280.
  11. Cable, J.; Harris, P. D. and Bakke, T. A. (2000). Population growth of Gyrodactylus salaris (Monogenea) on Norwegian and Baltic Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) stocks. Parasitology, 121: 621-629.
  12. Cable, J.; Scott, E. C. G.; Tinsley, R. C. and Harris, P. D. (2002a). Behavior favoring transmission in the viviparous monogenean Gyrodactylus turnbulli. Journal of Parasitology, 88(1): 183-184.
  13. Cable, J.; Tinsley, R. C. and Harris, P. D. (2002b). Survival, feeding and embryo development of Gyrodactylus gasterostei (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae). Parasitology, 124(1): 53-68.
  14. Chung, H. Y., Lin, I. H. and Kou, G. H. (1984). Study of the parasites on the gill of cultured eel in Taiwan. Fish Disease Research, 6: 24–33.
  15. Combes, C. (2001). Parasitism. The ecology and evolution of intimate interactions. University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London
  16. Cusack, R. and Cone, D. K. (1986). A review of parasites as vectors of viral and bacterial diseases of fish. Journal of Fish Diseases, 9(2): 169-171.
  17. De Moor, I. J and Bruton, M. N. (1988). Atlas of alien and translocated indigenous aquatic animals in southern Africa. South African National Scientific Programmes Report 114, South Africa.
  18. El-Abbassy, S. A. (2001). Biological and histochemical studies on some monogenean parasites of the catfish Clarias gariepinus inhabiting Nile Delta Waters. M. Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Sciences, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
  19. El-Abbassy, S. A. (2005). Studies of the anatomical featues, histochemical components and pathological impacts of gyrodactylid monogenean parasites infesting the catfish Clarias gariepinus inhabiting Nile Delta Waters. PhD thesis, Faculty of Sciences, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
  20. El-Naggar, A. M. (1994). Ecological studies on the monogenean parasites of the teleost Clarias lazera inhabiting Nile Delta Waters. M. Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Sciences, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
  21. El-Naggar, A. M. (2007). Mode of attachment and local histopathological impacts of the vivparous monogeneans Gyrodactylus rysavyi and M. congolensis from the skin and fins of the Nile catfish Clarias gariepinus. Egyptian Journal of Zoology, 49: 293-308.
  22. El-Naggar, M. M.; El-Naggar, A. M. and El-Abbassy, S. A. (2001). Microhabitat and movement of the vivparous monogeneans Gyrodactylus alberti, Macrogyrodactylus clarii and M. congolensis from the Nile catfish Clarias gariepinus. Journal of the Egyptian German Society for Zoology, 35 (D): 169-187.
  23. El-Naggar, M. M.; El-Naggar, A. A. and Kearn, G. C. (2004). Swimming in Gyrodactylus rysavyi (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from the Nile catfish Clarias gariepinus. Acta Parasitologica, 49(2): 102- 107.
  24. El-Naggar, M. M. and Serag, H. M. (1987). Redescription of Macrogyrodactylus clarii Gussev 1961, a monogenean gill parasite of Clarias lazera in Egypt. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research and Agricultural Biological Sciences, 5: 257-271.
  25. El-Naggar, A. M. and El-Tantawy, S. A. (2001). Competitive coexistence and microhabitat specialization of Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae, P. bini and G. anguillae, monogenean gill parasites of the immigrant European eel, Anguilla anguilla in Egypt. Journal of Union Arab Biologists, 16 (A) Zoology: 137-160
  26. Ergens, R. (1973). Two new species of Gyrodactylus from Clarias lazera (Vermes, Trematoda, Monogenoidea). Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaine, 87: 77-80.
  27. Gause, G. F. (1935). The Struggle for Existence (Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore).
  28. Hagras, A. E.; El-Naggar, M. M.; Kearn, G. C. and Arafa, S. Z. (1999). Monthly occurrence, seasonal population dynamics and distribution of four monogeneans on the catfish Clarias gariepinus in Dakahlia Province, Lower Egypt. Journal of the Egyptian German Society for Zoology, 29(D): 49-66.

Article Post Production

Article Indexed In

Comments :
Enter Name :
Email ID :
Comments :

Previous Comments :
Creative Commons License
Indian Streams Research Journal by Laxmi Book Publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://oldisrj.lbp.world/Default.aspx.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://oldisrj.lbp.world/Default.aspx
Copyright � 2014 Indian Streams Research Journal. All rights reserved
Looking for information? Browse our FAQs, tour our sitemap, or contact ISRJ
Read our Privacy Policy Statement and Plagairism Policy. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Use