Diversity of ectoparasites and endoparasites infecting Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), a large migratory catfish from the Amazon

ABSTRACT Brachyplatystoma vaillantii is a large migratory catfish widely distributed in the Amazon basin, but its parasitic fauna still poorly known. As it an important fishery resource region of Amazonas River estuary, aim this study was to investigate parasite community B. from tributary estuary system, Brazil. We examined 31 juvenile fish, which 80.6% were parasitized, and total 586 parasites collected. identified Dermidospermus brachyplastystimae araguiensis (Monogenea), Genarchella genarchella (Digenea), Harriscolex piramutab (Cestoda), Pseudoterranova sp. (Nematoda), Ergasilus xinguensis (Crustacea) mites (Acarina). The dominance larvae. composed low values species richness (2.0 ± 1.4), evenness (0.18 0.21) diversity (0.32 0.37), with predominance ectoparasite prevalence, abundance overdispersion. Host body weight main correlate abundance, diet rich crustaceans other invertebrates may be structuring vaillantii. This first report D. araguiensis, G. for