Aspects of the morphology, ecology and pathology of Cichlidogyrus philander collected from Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander in the Padda Dam, South Africa

Ph.D.Members of Cichlidogyrus are monogenean ectoparasites occurring on the gill filaments of mainly cichlid fishes. An overview of the taxonomic background of the genus and motivation for the study is provided. In this study, existing information on their distribution is organised in a comprehensive table which includes 85 species, their taxonomic authors, hosts and localities from which they have been recorded. Representatives of this genus occur mainly in Africa, but have been found on cichlids as far as Mexico. Host specificity of members of the group is discussed. During the present investigation specimens of the genus Cichlidogyrus were found parasitising Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander, in the Padda Dam in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Specimens were examined and identified as Cichlidogyrus philander, previously described from the same host, from Lake Kariba, in Zimbabwe. The morphology was studied utilizing light – and scanning electron microscopy. Specimens were stained with Horen‟s trichrome and photographed. Furthermore 100 whole mounted specimens, which were fixed and mounted in glycerine-ammonium-picrate, were measured. Larval specimens, and mature individuals with eggs in situ, were examined. The investigation of the ecology entailed monthly surveys during which a total of 245 fish specimens were collected with the aid of hand nets, over a period of 14 months (from March 2006 to June 2007). The fish were transported to the laboratory and killed by severing the spinal cord. Gills of specimens of P. p. philander (111), Gambusia affinis (105), Tilapia sparmanii (28) and one (1) 2 specimen of Cyprinus carpio were inspected, for the presence of monogeneans, with the aid of a dissection microscope. Only members of P. p. philander were parasitised by C. philander, indicating strict host specificity. The number of specimens varied from 0 to 184 per fish. The highest mean intensity of 91.6 occurred in the winter month of June 2007, although no significant correlation between season and the occurrence of this parasite was recorded. The prevalence was 100 % for ten of the fifteen surveys and no preference for host sex was recorded. The intensity of the infection correlates positively to the total length of the host, i.e. larger hosts harbour more worms. A positive correlation between condition factor and the total number of worms was found, indicating that more parasites are found on fish with a normal condition factor. No significant difference occurred between the numbers of parasites collected from gill arches on the left or right sides of fish. Statistical analysis of data showed that parasites disperse across the four gill arches with a higher proportion of parasites on the third and second gill arch. The highest proportion of the collected parasites occurred on the dorsal regions and on the distal ends of the gill filaments. Water quality variables do not significantly correlate to the prevalence, abundance or mean intensity of this parasite. This is the first ecological study conducted on specimens of C. philander, worldwide