New Records and Descriptions of Three New Species of Quadriacanthus (Monopisthocotyla: Dactylogyridae) from Catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes, Clariidae) in the Upper Congo Basin.

Abstract

In the Upper Congo Basin, there are few records of monopisthocotylan parasites from clariids. More surveys of clariid fishes can lead to the discovery of multiple monopisthocotylan species that are new to the region or new to science. We aimed to investigate the monopisthocotylan parasite fauna belonging to Quadriacanthus of five clariid fishes in the Upper Congo Basin by (i) inventorying the species composition and providing the description of new species when necessary, and (ii) analysing their infection parameters. Clarias ngamensis, C. stappersii, C. buthupogon, C. gariepinus and C. theodorae were purchased from fishermen in the Lufira, Lubumbashi and Kafubu rivers in the Upper Congo Basin. Monopisthocotylans were mounted on glass slides with ammonium picrate-glycerin for identification based on morphological analysis of genital and haptoral sclerotised parts. Eight species, namely Q. aegypticus, Q. allobychowskiella, Q. amakaliae, Q. domatanai, Q. halajiani, Q. kalomboi n. sp., Q. bassocki n. sp. and Q. shigoleyae n. sp. are reported. The most prevalent parasite species was Q. amakaliae on C. stappersii (prevalence 60%) with a mean infection intensity of 9.8 ± 7.7. We report C. stappersii and C. buthupogon as new hosts for species of Quadriacanthus as well as three new parasite species for science and new localities for the first five parasite species mentioned above. The new records and the description of Q. kalomboi n. sp., Q. bassocki n. sp. and Q. shigoleyae n. sp. increase the knowledge of the diversity of monopisthocotylans in this region.