Diversity and community ecology of metazoan parasites in Pimelodus ornatus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from the Amazonas River in Brazil

Abstract The present study investigated the metazoan parasite community in Pimelodus ornatus from Amazon River, state of Amapá (Brazil). Of 71 fish examined, 70.4% were parasitized by Demidospermus sp. (Monogenea), Cucullanus pinnai, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus and Contracaecum (Nematoda) plerocercoids Proteocephalidae gen. (Cestoda). dominance was nematode species such as (S.) parasites showed a highly aggregated dispersion predominance hosts infected one parasite. characterized low Shannon diversity index, evenness richness. richness species, Shannon's abundance P. positive correlation with length hosts. Therefore, size had an influence on infracommunities, well their intermediate position food web. This is first record for ornatus.