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The first report of liver coccidian Goussia cruciata in jack mackerel, Trachurus murphyi, from the South Pacific and its relationship with host variables

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Abstract

The liver coccidian Goussia cruciata is considered as a specific parasite of the genus Trachurus, but to date, this parasite has only been reported for Atlantic species (Trachurus picturatus, Trachurus lathami, Trachurus trachurus and Trachurus mediterraneus). Therefore, this is the first report of this parasite in a species of Trachurus from the South Pacific. The prevalence and abundance of this coccidian in jack mackerel, T. murphyi, was determined, and its relationships with host variables such as total body length, condition factor and hepatosomatic index were evaluated. A total of 49 individuals were sampled from a commercial vessel of the central Chilean coast (36° 41′ S, 73° 06′ W) in November 2013 and February and May 2014. The parasite was identified by means of liver smears using light microscopy. The relationship between the abundance of the parasites and the host total length, condition factor and hepatosomatic index was analysed with Spearman’s correlations. The sporogonic stages exhibited sporocysts that were morphologically concordant with coccidian G. cruciata. All hosts were parasitised with this coccidian, and the abundance varied between 2 and 224 oocytes per host. The parasite abundance was negatively correlated with the host total length. Infection levels of G. cruciata in T. murphyi apparently do not produce negative effects on fish condition.

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Acknowledgments

PG-K thanks to CONICYT scholarship of the Chilean Government for Doctorate students.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Alonso de Ribera 2850, Casilla 297, Concepción, Chile

    P. González-Kother

  2. Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Aplicadas Mención Sistemas Marinos Costeros, Universidad de Antofagasta, Casilla 170, Antofagasta, Chile

    P. González-Kother

  3. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales “Alexander von Humboldt”, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Casilla 170, Antofagasta, Chile

    M. T. González

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  1. P. González-Kother
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Correspondence to P. González-Kother.

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González-Kother, P., González, M.T. The first report of liver coccidian Goussia cruciata in jack mackerel, Trachurus murphyi, from the South Pacific and its relationship with host variables. Parasitol Res 113, 3903–3907 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4134-z

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