Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934 (Cestoidea: Bothriocephalidae) in freshwater fishes from Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México

Abstract

Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoidea: Bothriocephalidae) was first introduced in México along with its host, the Chinese carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella. The two species were first introduced in 1965 at Centro Piscicola, Texontepec de Aldama, Hidalgo, and later to other areas of the country, and the species now infects many different species of fishes in various localities. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of B. acheilognathi in the freshwater fishes of Río Metztitlán and Laguna Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México. Río Metztitlán and Laguna Metztitlán are new locality records for B. acheilognathi whereas Astyanax mexicanus and Abramis brama, are new host records in México. The highest levels of infection were found in Chirostoma jordani and the lowest levels in Astyanax mexicanus and Cyprinus carpio; Ictalurus mexicanus and Oreochromis niloticus were negative for the parasite. Of the fishes collected as part of this study, Abramis brama, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, and Poeciliopsis gracilis are registered for the first time for Hidalgo, and Abramis brama, Chirostoma jordani, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, Ictalurus mexicanus and Poeciliopsis gracilis are new registries for the Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán.