Diatoms-endoparasite association in fish from the marine pacific coast of Colombia (Buenaventura)

Abstract

The association of parasites and diatoms has been previously reported as an important mechanism to control bacteria and parasites to avoid resistance to chemical usage. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between diatoms genus and parasites within the gastrointestinal compartments (GICs) of commercial fish in fisheries of the marine Pacific coast of Colombia (Buenaventura). A total of 104 GICs from marine fish were sampled. The GICs analysis revealed 14 diatom genera (N = 14). The most prevalent were Coscinodiscus spp., which was present in 58/104 samples, 55.8% [95% CI = 37.5-62.1%]; Cyclotella spp., 28/104, 26.9% [95% CI = 0-25%]; Paralia spp., 26/104, 25% [95% CI = 12.5-44.8%]; Gyrosigma spp., 11/104, 10.6% [95% CI = 0-33.3%]; Navicula spp., 11/104, 10.6%, [95% CI = 0-20.7%]. The GICs analysis revealed a diversity of genera parasites. The most prevalent were Ameboid cysts, 25/104, 24% [95% CI = 12.5-48.3%]; Eimeria spp., 11/104, 10.6% [95% CI = 10.3-15.7%]; Anisakis spp., 29/104, 27.1% [95% CI = 27.1 (SD±12.9%)]. This is the first report concerning diatoms and parasites association in fish from the Pacific Coast of Colombia and highlights the relevance of Coscinodiscus spp. and Gyrosigma spp. as important diatoms and potential candidates for studying pharmaceutical action in aquaculture. Further studies about diatoms-parasites association in aquaculture are required.

Fig 1. Samples were collected from Puente el Piñal, and San Antonio.

Ranging in elevation from 0 to 7 m.a.s.l. (A, B) Platonera in Puente el Piñal, preparing and selling market fish products; (C) fishing boat arriving after fishing at Puente el Piñal; (D) fishermen, eviscerating fish; (E) pelicans in the Puente el Piñal; (F), cat eating gastrointestinal compartments of fish. Created in BioRender. Benavides, J. (2024) BioRender.com/e10g125.

Fig 2. Species of diatoms present in marine fish intestine from the pacific of Colombia.

A) Actinoptychus spp.; B) Aulacoseira spp.; C) Biddulphia spp; D) Botrydiopsis spp; E) Coscinodiscus spp.; F) Cyclotella spp; G) Cymbella spp.; H, I) Gyrosigma spp.; J, K) Melosira spp.; L) Navicula spp.; M) Paralia spp.; N) Skeletonema spp.; O) Torodinium spp.; P) Unruhdinium spp. Created in BioRender. Created in BioRender. Benavides, J. (2024) BioRender.com/z47t234.

Fig 3

Parasites found from various Pacific fish species: Anisakidae eggs (A); Contracaecum spp. (B), Anisakis spp. (C), Cyst of a cilliated from Cynoscion albus (D), Eimeria spp. (E, F), Macrostomorpha spp. (G), Metagonimus spp. (H), Paragonimus spp. (I). Created in BioRender. Benavides, J. (2024) BioRender.com/u24c141.

Fig 4

Helminths from Mugil curema, Thunnus alalunga and Notarious armbrusteri. Nematodes located on cerose gastric (A), Anisakidae family teeth observed 40X t: (B) Confocal, lateral view (C), Anisakis simplex sensu lato. anterior region (D), posterior or tail observed by confocal microscopy (E), SEM tail (F), Acanthocephalus spp. (G), Acanthocephalus spp. head with hooks (H), Acanthocephalus spp. tail (I). Created in BioRender. Benavides, J. (2024) BioRender.com/h00l150.

Fig 5. Contingency table.

Parasites ‐ Diatoms association in Gastrointestinal Compartments (CGIs) in fish from harbor of Buenaventura–Colombia. First sampling 19 march 2023 (A), Second sampling 07 october 2023 (B), Third sampling 09 march 2024 (C), Total sampling (D). Significant differences using Fisher test P ≤0,0035, **. P≤0.0001****.