PHYLOGENY AND TAXONOMY OF MICROPARASITES AND
ECTOPARASITES IN FISH SPECIES OF COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE IN THE EASTERN AMAZON
Ichthyopathological; Siluriformes; Perciformes; Kudoa filamentosum; Lernanthropus sp.
The Amazon basin has a great diversity of fish species, which allows the development of artisanal and industrial fishing in the region. Among the species of fish traded, it can be highlighted the orders Siluriformes and Perciformes. Siluriformes stand out for the high commercial value of fish, in relation to other groups of fish. Marine, estuarine and dulcicola fish species can host a great diversity of metazoan parasites, mainly ectoparasites and endoparasites, thus increasing the importance of ichthyological studies. Thus, the study aims to describe possible new species of microparasites and ectoparasites in fish species of commercial importance in the eastern Amazon, from the District of Mosqueiro, in the municipality of Belém and Vigia de Nazaré, State of Pará, through morphological, histological, taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. Ectopathoses can interfere with the development, health and appearance of fish of economic interest, hindering marketing. Some species of mixozoans that can cause severe damage to fish, both in natural environments and in fish farming. The specimens studied were acquired dead, with artisanal fishermen and free market sale of fish. Light microscopy, morphological, histological, DNA extraction by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genetic sequencing were performed. Therefore, based on the results of the analyses, it was possible to identify and describe a new species of parasite of the genus Kudoa in the skeletal musculature of Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, and also report the occurrence and morphologically describes Lernanthropus sp. in gills of Macrodon ancylodon and Nebris microps.