Philometroides Barbi Sp. Nov. (Nematoda, Philometridae) from Barbus Meridionalis, a New Philometrid from European Freshwater Fish Stefañski

Philometroides barbi sp. nov. (Nematoda, Philometridae) from Barbus meridionalis, a new philometrid from European freshwater fish Stefañski

František Moravec1*, Andrea Šimková2, Vladimíra Hanzelová3, Marta Špakulová3 and Predrag Cakiæ4 1Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, 370 05 „eské Budjovice, 2Department of Zoology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, KotláÍská 2, 61137 Brno; Czech Republic; 3Parasitological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic; 4Institute of Biological Research “Sinisa Stankoviƒ”, Despota Stefana Blv. 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

Abstract A new species of parasitic nematode, Philometroides barbi sp. nov., is described from subgravid and mature females parasitic in the Mediterranean barbel Barbus meridionalis Risso (Pisces, Cyprinidae) in France, Serbia and Slovakia. Mature females were recorded under the serosa of the host’s swimbladder, whereas large subgravid females (body length 62.0–80.9 mm) were found in the abdominal cavity. One small subgravid specimen (body length 10.4 mm) was recovered from the fin. The new species differs from other congeners in possessing four conspicuously large caudal lobes; from many species it can be also dif- ferentiated by the distribution of cuticular bosses and by the structure and length of the oesophagus. P. barbi is the third species of Philometroides known from European freshwater fishes and the only representative of this genus in barbels (Barbus spp.).

Key words Parasitic nematode, Philometroides, freshwater fish, Barbus meridionalis, France, Serbia, Slovakia

(= B. meridionalis Risso) from the Myslavský Brook in Košice, Introduction Skóra eastern Slovakia. The author neither described the speci- Due to problems with the identification of philometrid nema- men(s) nor mentioned the site of infection in the host; his todes, associated with their morphological and biological pe- material is no longer available and it can be only assumed culiarities, many species of these important parasites remain from the date of collection (5 December 1955) that the speci- undiscovered or poorly known to date (Moravec 2004a, Mo- men(s) was/were moderately developed; the identification ravec and Genc 2004). In European freshwater fishes, the was probably made only on the basis of the presence of boss- family Philometridae is represented by five species of Philo- es on the nematode cuticle. Later Cakiƒ et al. (2002) described metra Costa, 1845 [P. cyprinirutili (Creplin, 1825), P. kotlani three large-sized subgravid females of Philometroides found (Molnár, 1969), P. obturans (Prenant, 1886), P. ovata (Zeder, in the abdominal cavity of B. meridionalis from the Uvac 1803), P. rischta Skryabin, 1923] parasitic in cyprinids or pike River basin in Serbia, considering them to be Philometroides and by two species of Philometroides Yamaguti, 1935, of cyprini [syn. P. lusiana (Vismanis, 1966)]. However, this iden- which P. cyprini (Ishii, 1931) is an introduced specific para- tification could be questioned, because the described mor- site of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), whereas P. sanguineus (Ru- phology distinctly differed from that of P. cyprini females dolphi, 1819) is specific to Carassius spp. (see Moravec 1994, from carp (Moravec and „ervinka 2005). 2004b). An examination of a few recently collected Philometro- Kašt’ák (1956, 1957) listed Philometra sanguinea (= Philo- ides specimens from B. meridionalis from southern France metroides sanguineus) from Barbus meridionalis petényi and eastern Slovakia and a re-evaluation of published data in

*Corresponding author: [email protected] 320 František Moravec et al.

Œl¹ski

Fig. 1. Philometroides barbi sp. nov., female: A-E – subgravid female from the host’s fin (A and B – anterior and posterior ends of body, C – cephalic end, D – cuticular bosses, E – caudal end); F-H – mature female from swimbladder (F – anterior end, G – region of vulva, H – posterior end); I and J – large subgravid female from body cavity (I – anterior end, J – posterior end). Scale bars: A and B – 0.2 mm; C and E-H – 0.1 mm; D – 0.05 mm; I and J – 0.5 mm (I and J adapted from Cakiƒ et al. 2002) Philometroides barbi sp. nov. from Barbus meridionalis Zdzis³aw 321

Stanis³a the paper by Cakiƒ et al. (2002) show that the nematodes from numerous spherical eggs 9–12 in diameter, anteriorly not this host represent a new species of Philometroides, which is reaching posterior end of oesophagus. Anterior and posterior described herein. ends of uterus provided with ovaries. Caudal end with four distinct lobes containing darker tissue; anterior lateral lobes larger, 45–51 in length, width of bases 69–72; posterior sub- Materials and methods lateral lobes 27–36 in length, width of bases 39–42. More developed subgravid females (3 specimens) (adapt- On 4 September 2003, four specimens of the Mediterranean ed from Cakiƒ et al. 2002): Body length 62.00–80.90 mm, barbel Barbus meridionalis Risso caught in the Tinne stream, width at middle 500–910. Cephalic end with four flat papillae. an affluent of the Var River, about 60 km north of Nice, south- Mouth three-branched. Whole body embossed. Oesophagus ern France, were sent to the laboratory of the University of 1.11–1.92 mm long. Uterus well developed, containing large Montpellier for a parasitological examination. The total body number of eggs 3–6 mm wide. Caudal end with four blunt length of fish was 20–25 cm. In addition to other helminth par- lobes, two of which being more developed. asites, one fish harboured a single specimen (small subgravid Mature female (1 specimen, paratype): Body filiform, female) of Philometroides in the fin. This was fixed in 70% light-coloured, 2.57 mm long, maximum width 45. Cuticle ethanol. In addition, two small mature females supposed to be smooth. Cephalic end rounded, cephalic papillae indistinct. Philometroides were collected from the swimbladders (under Entire oesophagus 684 long, without anterior bulb. Oesopha- serosa) in two of fifteen B. meridionalis specimens (total body geal gland well developed, 456 long, opening posterior to lev- length 17 and 23 cm) caught in the Myslavský Brook in Ko- el of nerve ring; large cell of gland 435 from anterior extrem- šice, eastern Slovakia, on 1 July 2004; these were fixed in ity. Nerve ring 114 from anterior end of body. Intestine nar- 70% ethanol. An examination of additional thirteen speci- row, light-coloured, ending in short ligament attached ven- mens of B. meridionalis of approximately the same size from trally to body wall at caudal region. Vulva covered with plug this locality on 2 June 2005 gave negative results. Unfortuna- situated 786 from posterior end of body; vagina directed ante- tely, the mounted Philometroides specimens from B. meridiona- riorly from vulva. Uterus tubular, empty. Ovaries near ends of lis collected in Serbia [Jablanica River, Uvac River basin body. Caudal end rounded, without any lobes. (43°00´–43°30´N, 19°45´–20°00´E)] and described by Cakiƒ Male: Unknown. et al. (2002) have been destroyed and could not be re-exam- Type host: Mediterranean barbel, Barbus meridionalis ined. For light microscopical examination, the nematodes (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes). were cleared with glycerine. Drawings were made with the aid Site of infection: Fins and body cavity (subgravid females) of a Zeiss microscope drawing attachment. All measurements and under serosa of swimbladder (mature females). are in micrometres unless otherwise stated. The scientific Type locality: Tinne stream, an affluent of Var River, about names of fishes follow Froese and Pauly (2005). 60 km north of Nice, southern France. Other localities: Jablanica River (Uvac River basin), southwestern Serbia and Myslavský Brook in Košice (Danube Results River basin), eastern Slovakia. Deposition of specimens: Holotype and paratypes in the Philometroides barbi sp. nov. (Fig. 1) helminthological collection of the Institute of Parasitology, ASCR, in „eské Budjovice (Cat. no. N-850). Description (subgravid female, holotype): Body elongate, yel- lowish, 10.40 mm long, maximum width 245; width of anterior end 109, of posterior end (just anterior to caudal lobes) Discussion 122. Cephalic end rounded; cephalic papillae indistinct. Oral aperture with three small, anteriorly protruding oesophageal The genus Philometroides includes a total of 22 species par- teeth 3 long. Body covered with numerous, irregularly dis- asitizing both freshwater and marine fishes. Males are known tributed cuticular bosses up to 6 high; bosses start at short dis- only for 9 of them. Accordingly, most morphological differ- tance posterior to level of nerve ring, being most distinct on ential features are found in gravid females. Even though fully middle and posterior parts of body. Oesophagus 1.31 mm long gravid females of Philometroides barbi sp. nov. containing (representing 13% of body length), maximum width 109, with larvae were not available, the large-sized subgravid females distinct anterior bulb 42 long and 57 wide. Oesophageal gland studied are comparable with them; these were collected in well developed, opening just posterior to level of nerve ring; May, when females of the majority of philometrids of the tem- large nucleus of gland 762 from anterior extremity. Oesopha- perate zone attain their gravidity and produce larvae, so that gus opening into intestine through distinct valve. Nerve ring they can be considered to be shortly before becoming gravid. encircling oesophagus 231 from anterior end of body. Intes- A unique morphological feature of P. barbi is the presence tine narrow, light-coloured, ending blindly, its posterior end of four conspicuously large caudal projections, by which it being attached by short ligament to ventral body wall at level differs from all its congeners. Four caudal projections were of caudal lobes. Vagina and vulva absent. Uterus filled with described by Vismanis (1966) and Vismanis et al. (1987) also 322 František Moravec et al.

Roborzyñski rosbœŸæv fjad kadsææ¿æ in P. cyprini (reported as P. lusiana), but the recent study of vakia. Thanks are also due to Irena Husáková, Department of Hel- this species by Moravec and „ervinka (2005) has shown that minthology, Institute of Parasitology, ASCR in „eské Budjovice for only two large lateral caudal projections and a small ventral her help with illustrations. This study was partly supported by the grant no. 524/03/0061 from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, cuticular lobe are present. Caudal projections of P. cyprini are the research project of the Institute of Parasitology, ASCR (no. much smaller than those in P. barbi. Both species also differ Z60220518) and by a grant of the Slovak grant agency VEGA (no. in the location of gravid and subgravid females in the host (in 2/4177/04). A. Šimková was supported by the Research Project of the beds of scales in P. cyprini vs. in abdominal cavity or fins the Masaryk University, Brno (no. MSM 0021622416). in P. barbi) and in the host species (Cyprinus carpio vs. Bar- bus meridionalis). Females of another European Philometro- ides species, P. sanguineus, have only two small papilla-like References caudal projections. Cakic P., Stojanovski S.S., Petroviƒ Z., Lenhard M., Fister S. 2002. Three small oesophageal teeth protruding out of the mouth The first record of parasite nematode genus Philometroides in were observed in the holotype specimen (Fig. 1C). Similar Yugoslav freshwater fish. Experimental Pathology and Par- teeth were observed, e.g. in P. sanguineus, but are absent in asitology, 5/8, 3–6. P. cyprini (see Moravec and „ervinka 2005). Because of a Froese R., Pauly D. (Eds.) 2005. FishBase. World Wide Web elec- tronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 6/2005. very limited material, cephalic papillae could not be studied Kašt’ák V. 1956. Preliminary report on the finds of fish parasites in by SEM. Slovak waters. Biológia, Bratislava, 11, 624–635 (In Slovak). There may be interspecific differences in the character and Kašt’ák V. 1957. Knowledge from the hitherto investigations into the distribution of cuticular bosses in large females of Philo- helminth fauna of fishes in Slovak waters. Helminthologia, metroides. The body of P. barbi seems to be embossed in a 2, 186–222 (In Slovak). Molnár K. 1967. Morphology and development of Philometra abdo- similar way as, for example, that of P. cyprini or P. san- minalis Nybelin, 1928. Acta Veterinaria Academiae Scien- guineus. The cuticular bosses are generally absent from the tiarum Hungaricae, 17, 293–300. body surface of conspecific males and mature females, as Moravec F. 1994. Parasitic nematodes of freshwater fishes of Eu- already observed by Rasheed (1963). The mature females in rope. Academia and Kluwer Academic Publishers, Prague the present material were assigned to P. barbi because they and Dordrecht, Boston, London. Moravec F. 2004a. Some aspects of the taxonomy and biology of dra- were found in the same host (B. meridionalis) and locality cunculoid nematodes parasitic in fishes: a review. Folia Para- (Myslavský Brook) where Philometroides was previously sitologica, 51, 1–13. recorded by Kašt’ák (1956, 1957). Molnár (1967) mentioned Moravec F. 2004b. The systematic status of Philometra abdominalis the finding of Philometra ovata (reported as P. abdominalis), Nybelin, 1928 (Nematoda: Philometridae) [= a junior syn- a common parasite of cyprinids of the genera Gobio, Phoxinus onym of P. ovata (Zeder, 1803)]. Folia Parasitologica, 51, 75–76. and Leuciscus, from Barbus meridionalis in Hungary (Magy- Moravec F., „ervinka S. 2005. Female morphology and systematic arkút and Kemence Brooks in the mountain Börzsöny), but status of Philometroides lusiana (Vismanis, 1966) (Nema- only small mature females on the swimbladder were found. toda: Philometridae). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, in press. Therefore, it is highly probable that, in fact, they were also Moravec F., Genc E. 2004. Redescription of three Philometra spp. P. barbi. (Nematoda, Philometridae) from the gonads of marine perci- form fishes of Iskenderun Bay (North-East Mediterranean), Philometroides barbi is the third species of the genus Turkey. Acta Parasitologica, 49, 31–40. described from European freshwater fishes. Although Barbus Moravec F., Kone…ný R., Baska F., Rydlo M., Scholz T., Molnár K., meridionalis seems to be the only definitive host of this par- Schiemer F. 1997. Endohelminth fauna of barbel, Barbus bar- asite, it cannot be excluded that other species of Barbus may bus (L.), under ecological conditions of the Danube basin in also serve as its hosts. Moravec et al. (1997) recorded Philo- Central Europe. Academia, Prague. Rasheed S. 1963. A revision of the genus Philometra Costa, 1845. metra sp. larvae from Barbus barbus (Linnaeus) in the Czech Journal of Helminthology, 37, 89–130. Republic. It cannot be excluded that they belonged to Philo- Vismanis K.O. 1966. Study of the agent of philometrosis in carp. metroides barbi, because cuticular bosses are present only in Symposium on Parasites and Diseases of Fishes and Aquat- subgravid and gravid females. Further studies on P. barbi are ic Invertebrates. Abstracts. Nauka, Moscow-Leningrad, 9–10 necessary, including SEM and DNA examinations. (In Russian). Vismanis K.O., Lomakin V.V., Roytman V.D., Semenova M.K., Trofimenko V.Ya. 1987. Nemathelminths – Nemathelmin- thes. In: Key to parasites of freshwater fishes of the USSR Acknowledgements. The authors wish to thank Rudolf Halmi, fauna. Vol. 3. Parasitic metazoans. Part 2 (Ed. O.N. Bauer). Slovak Fishery Union for his help with collection of fish from Slo- Nauka, Leningrad, 199–310 (In Russian).

(Accepted July 27, 2005)