First Record of Transversotrema Witenberg, 1944 (Digenea) from the Americas, with Comments on the Taxonomy of Transversotrema patialense (Soparkar, 1924) Crusz and Sathananthan, 1960, and an Updated List of Its Hosts and Geographic Distribution.
Specimens of Transversotrema patialense (sensu lato) ( Soparkar, 1924 ) Crusz and Sathananthan, 1960 (Digenea: Transversotrematidae) infected the skin (epidermal spaces beneath scales near pectoral fins) of 4 of 126 (prevalence 3%; mean intensity 1.8) zebrafish ( Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) [Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae]) purchased in 2009 and cultured by a California (USA) fish supplier. These fish were sold as "laboratory-reared" and "specific pathogen free," purportedly raised in a recirculating aquaculture system that included zebrafish only. We herein describe the morphological features of this transversotrematid using light and scanning electron microscopy, provide a comprehensive list of hosts (snails and fishes) and geographic locality records for specimens reported as T. patialense, which is perhaps a species complex, and provide a brief historical synopsis of the taxonomic and life history research that has been conducted on this fluke. No species of Transversotrema previously had been reported from the Americas; however, this discovery is not surprising given that: (1) a suitable intermediate host (red-rimmed melania, Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) [Cerithioidea: Thiaridae]) has been established in California and elsewhere in North America, (2) the zebrafish is a susceptible definitive host, and (3) T. patialense reportedly matures on a broad ecological and phylogenetic spectrum of freshwater fishes. To our knowledge, this is the northern-most geographic locality record for a species of this genus. We suspect this case study represents an example of a parasite that may now be established in North America by the fortuitous co-occurrence of a susceptible, exotic snail host (the red-rimmed melania) and a susceptible, widely distributed, exotic fish host (the zebrafish).
Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Matthew R
MR
Womble
Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Stephanie J
SJ
Cox-Gardiner
Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Thomas H
TH
Cribb
Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Stephen A
SA
Bullard
D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D058500:Animal Fins / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000662:veterinary; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology; D014200:Trematoda / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000469:parasitology*