A SURVEY ON CESTODES IN ITALIAN LACUSTRINE FISH

Data concerning the presence of cestodes in wild fish populations in Italian Lakes are scarce and fragmentary. In the framework of a Research Project funded by the Ministry of Health on zoonotic helminths in freshwater fish, a parasitological survey aimed to update the existing data on the presence...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: GUSTINELLI, ANDREA, CAFFARA, MONICA, FIORAVANTI, MARIALETIZIA, Prearo M., Bernardoni E., Menconi V., Cavazza G., Righetti M., Quaglio F.
Other Authors: Gustinelli A., Caffara M., Fioravanti M.L
Format: Conference Object
Language:Italian
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11585/393253
Description
Summary:Data concerning the presence of cestodes in wild fish populations in Italian Lakes are scarce and fragmentary. In the framework of a Research Project funded by the Ministry of Health on zoonotic helminths in freshwater fish, a parasitological survey aimed to update the existing data on the presence of Diphyllobothrium spp. (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) in Italy has been carried out in fish populations from Italian lakes, widening data collection also to the presence of not zoonotic tapeworms. During the period January-November 2013, from 5 Italian lakes (Maggiore, Como, Iseo, Garda, Piediluco), 775 fish belonging to 6 species have been sampled by professional fishermen: 553 perch (Perca fluviatilis), 91 shad (Alosa fallax lacustris), 66 whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), 46 burbot (Lota lota), 10 pike (Esox Lucius) and 9 tench (Tinca tinca). Fish were weighted, measured and submitted to parasitological examination. Parasites were isolated, washed in saline solution and fixed in 70% ethanol for morphology. Plerocercoid larvae were also submitted to molecular identification. Prevalence (P%) values, Mean Intensity (MI) and Abundance (A) have been calculated according to Bush et al., 1997, J. Parasitol., 83: 575-583. Concerning Diphyllobothriid plerocercoid larvae positivities were found in perch from Maggiore Lake (P%=10.53, MI=1.00, A=0.11), Como Lake (P%=23.97, MI=1.34, A=0.32) and Iseo Lake (P%=12.79, MI=1.68, A=0.17); pike from Como (P%=40.00, MI=6.00, A=2.40) and Iseo Lakes (P%=100, MI=3.50, A=2.33); burbot from Como (P%=17.39, MI=5.75, A=1.00) and Iseo Lake (P%=19.05, MI=6.75, A=1.29). All the fish from Garda and Piediluco lakes and all the shad and whitefish were negative for diphyllobothriid plerocercoid larvae. All the larvae found in perch, pike and burbot are identified as Diphyllobothrium latum by morphology and confirmed by PCR and sequencing.Concerning adult cestodes found in fish intestine, Proteocephalus percae has been isolated from perch, pike and burbot, confirming perch as definitive host and pike ...