Tunisian coastal waters are located in the south-central Mediterranean Sea. Tunisia has a 1670- km coastline including 7 coastal lagoons, covering a total surface of 105200 ha and an exceptional continental shelf of 88 000 km2 (Cherif
tions because they are diverse both in terms of morphology and numbers. Their members are generally host specific, and their phylogeny is well resolved (Poulin, 2002). In addition, the study of monogeneans is also fundamental to aquaculture because they are known as agents responsible for many epidemics (Lia
In this paper we present all the available species records of monogeneans in Tunisian waters and we incorporate new data derived from our own work on species recorded from marine fish of the Gulf of Gabes (southern coast of Tunisia) in order to make the first checklist of monogeneans as parasites of Tunisian aquatic vertebrates.
The list of Monogenea from Tunisian aquatic vertebrates was prepared based on published data and doctoral and masters theses. It is organized in both a parasite–host table (Table 1 and a host– parasite one (Table 2).The families and species of monogeneans are presented in alphabetical order followed by microhabitat, localities and references (Table 1). The nomenclatures of all taxa are presented according to WoRMS (2021). However, authors of new combinations for some very old taxa of Monogenea are lacking.
List of Monogenea parasites of Tunisian aquatic organisms. Records are listed by monogenoidean families and ordered per: parasite species (alphabetically), host species (alphabetically), reference (chronologically). NR, New record. Areas: 1, North; 2, East ; 3, South; 4. hydrographic network in the north.
Monogenoides species | Host species | Microhabitat | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
Family Amphibdellatidae Carus, 1885 | |||
gills | Neifar, 1995, 2001 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995, 2001 ; Tazerouti |
||
gills | Neifar, 1995, 2001 ; Tazerouti |
||
gills | Neifar, 2001 | ||
Family Ancyrocephalidae Bychowsky, 1937 | |||
gills | Boussellaa, 2020 | ||
gills | Kacem and Neifar, 2015; present work | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 present work | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 present work | ||
pharynx and oesophagus | Boussellaa, 2018, 2020 | ||
Family Axinidae Monticelli, 1903 | |||
gills | Ktari, 1971; Neifar, 1995 Châari, 2013; Châari |
||
gills | Châari, 2013; Châari |
||
gills | Châari, 2013; Châari |
||
gills | Châari, 2013; Châari |
||
Family Calceostomatidae Parana and Perugia, 1890 | |||
gills | Euzet and Ktari, 1973 | ||
Family Capsalidae Baird, 1853 | |||
skin | present work (NR) | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
skin (ventral surface) | Neifar, 2001 | ||
skin (ventral surface) | Neifar, 2001 | ||
skin (ventral surface) | Neifar, 2001 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971; Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971; Neifar, 1995 Boussellaa, 2020; Boussellaa |
||
host unknown (not cited) (1) | gills | Ktari, 1971 | |
gills | El Garbi |
||
gills | El Garbi |
||
gills | Ktari, 1977; Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971, 1975, 1977 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1975, 1977 | ||
gills | Euzet, 1984, present work Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Chaabane |
||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | Present work (NR) | ||
gills | Neifar, 2008 | ||
gills | Euzet, 1984, present work Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | Euzet, 1984; present work | ||
gills | Diamanka |
||
2011 | |||
gills | Boudaya |
||
gills | Euzet, 1984; present work | ||
(1) | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
Saint-Hilaire, 1817) (1) | |||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
Saint-Hilaire, 1817), (3) | present work | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Euzet, 1984; Boudaya |
||
(1) | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Euzet, 1984; present work | ||
(1) | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar |
||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | Euzet, 1984; present work Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Euzet, 1984 | ||
1758) (3) | Neifar, 1995 | ||
(1) | |||
gills | Derbel |
||
gills | Chaabane |
||
Beverley-Burton, 1986 | |||
gills | Neifar and Euzet, 2007; Chaabane |
||
2017 | |||
gills | Neifar and Euzet, 2007; Chaabane |
||
2017 | |||
gills | Neifar and Euzet, 2007; Chaabane |
||
2017 | |||
gills | Chaabane |
||
2016 | |||
gills | Chaabane |
||
gills | Chaabane |
||
gills | Neifar and Euzet, 2007; Chaabane |
||
gills | Neifar and Euzet, 2007; Chaabane |
||
gills | Chaabane |
||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
Euzet and Ktari, 1970 a, 1973; Neifar, 1995 | |||
gills | Feki, 2017 | ||
gills | Feki, 2017 Ktari, 1971; Neifar, 1995 Feki, 2017 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Feki, 2017 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971 | ||
gills | Euzet and Ktari, 1970 b | ||
gills | Neifar, 2001 | ||
skin | Neifar, 2001 | ||
gills | Neifar, 2001 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar, 2001 | ||
host unknown (not cited) (1) | gills | Ktari, 1971 | |
gills | Ktari and Maillard, 1972 | ||
gills | Neifar, 2001 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971 present work | ||
gills | present work | ||
Ktari, 1971 Feki, 2017 | |||
gills | Ktari, 1971 Feki, 2017 | ||
Feki, 2017 | |||
Present work | |||
gills | Feki, 2017 present work | ||
gills | Derbel, 2004; present work Feki, 2017 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1982; Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | present work (NR) | ||
gills | Feki, 2017 | ||
present work | |||
gills | Ktari, 1969, 1971; Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971; Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Azizi, 2020; Azizi |
||
gills | Ktari, 1971 present work | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971; Neifar, 1995 present work | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971; Neifar, 1995 | ||
Hargis, 1965 | Azizi, 2020; Azizi |
||
gills | Ktari, 1971 present work | ||
gills | Boussellaa, 2020 | ||
gills | Ktari, 1971 | ||
Inner gill cover, | Ktari, 1971; Euzet and Ktari, 1971 Châari, 2013; Châari |
||
gills | |||
host unknown (not cited) (1) | gills | Ktari, 1971 | |
gills | Ktari, 1970, 1971 | ||
host unknown (not cited) (1) | gills | Ktari, 1971 | |
gills | Ktari, 1971; Neifar, 1995 | ||
cloaca | Neifar, 2001 | ||
cloaca | Neifar, 2001 | ||
rectal gland | Neifar, 2001 | ||
cloaca | Neifar, 2001 ; Neifar ef |
||
nasal capsule | Neifar, 2001 | ||
nasal tissues | Neifar, 2001 | ||
gills | Neifar, 2001, Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar, 2001 | ||
gills | Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar, 1995, 2001; Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
||
Neifar, 1995 | |||
Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
|||
gills | Neifar |
||
skin ventral surface | Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
||
interbranchial septa | Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
||
nasal tissues | Neifar, 2001 | ||
Beverley-Burton, 1995 | |||
gills | Neifar, 2001 | ||
gills | Neifar, 2001 ; Neifar |
||
gills | Neifar, 2001 ; Neifar |
||
nasal tissues | Neifar, 2001; Neifar |
||
nasal tissues | Boudaya and Neifar, 2016 | ||
gills | Boudaya |
||
gills | Ktari, 1971 | ||
1941 | (Bonnaterre, 1788), C. |
||
urinary bladder and rectum | Combes and Ktari, 1976 | ||
esophagus | Lambert |
||
gills | Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Euzet and Ktari, 1970 c; Neifar, 1995 | ||
gills | Neifar, 1995 |
List of Tunisian aquatic host species and their monogenean parasites.
Host species | Monogenean species |
---|---|
Monogenea were reported from hosts of different localities in the coast of Tunisia, at the northern area (Gulf of Tunis 37°N, 10°30’E), at the eastern area (Gulf of Hammamet 36°5’N, 10°45’E) and at the southern area (Gulf of Gabes 34°05’N, 10°26’E) (Fig. 1). In addition, fish were sampled from the Gulf of Gabes at Skhira (34°05’N; 10°01’E), Kerkennah (34°45’N; 11°17’E) and Sidi Mansour (34°46’N; 10°48’E). This fish has been caught by locals fishermen. The specimens, coming from the coastal fishing, were identified using Fisher
Monogenean species diversity in the Gulf of Gabes.
Monogenean family | Monogenean species | Fish species | Number of fishes examined | P (%) | MA | Ml |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ancyrocephalidae | 2 | 100 | 6 | 6 | ||
21 | 80 | 6.4 | 8 | |||
80 | 4.8 | 6 | ||||
4 | 100 | 3 | 3 | |||
12 | 50 | 0.75 | 1 | |||
75 | 2 | 2 | ||||
100 | 8.33 | 8 | ||||
100 | 10.3 | 10 | ||||
Capsalidae | 22 | 13.6 | 0.22 | 1 | ||
4 | 50 | 3 | 6 | |||
Diplectanidae | 2 | 100 | 10 | 10 | ||
30 | 90 | 15.3 | 17 | |||
9 | 88 | 4.4 | 5 | |||
82 | 22 | 0.5 | 2 | |||
71.4 | 4.7 | 6 | ||||
6 | 83.3 | 18 | 21 | |||
5 | 100 | 28 | 28 | |||
6 | 66 | 13 | 20.5 | |||
50 | 1 | 2 | ||||
66 | 2.2 | 4 | ||||
33 | 1.6 | 4 | ||||
5 | 100 | 3.6 | 3 | |||
4 | 100 | 38 | 38 | |||
7 | 85.7 | 15.28 | 20 | |||
2 | 100 | 24 | 24 | |||
14 | 100 | 12 | 12 | |||
28 | 0.5 | 2 | ||||
4 | 75 | 1.5 | 2 | |||
4 | 75 | 6 | 8 | |||
Microcotylidae | 22 | 13 | 0.6 | 7 | ||
82 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | |||
7 | 42 | 0.85 | 2 | |||
Mazocraeidae | 21 | 19 | 0.1 | 1 | ||
55 | 2.35 | 4 | ||||
18 | 0.36 | 2 | ||||
31 | 54 | 2.4 | 4 | |||
46 | 8.6 | 0.08 | 1 | |||
63 | 15 | 0.19 | 1 |
All applicable institutional, national and international guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.
The checklist of Monogenea species recorded from Tunisian waters includes 153 species from 89 host species. Among them, 37 species are reported from elasmobranchs and two species,
The diversity of Monogenea in the coast of Tunisia is similar to that of other regions of the Mediterranean. For example, in the coast of Italy, there are 141 species of Monogenea reported from 93 host species (Strona
In this list, twenty six families are recorded; among them the Diplectanidae Monticelli, 1903 which represents the major mono-genean family. Most species belong to the genus
This list shows that there are more species of Monopisthocotylea (93 species) than Polyopisthocotylea (60 species). Several studies of Monogenea diversity of fish from many localities show that the Monopisthocotylea is the richest group (Justine
This difference can be also explained by the sampling effort. Indeed, examining additional hosts can probably change the number of monogeneans records and may also change the Monopisthocotylea/Polyopisthocotylea balance of recorded species. Moreover, Mendoza-Garfias
We noted that the number of Monogenea recorded in the coast of Tunisia has increased in the past 2 decades and led to the description of many new species. The first species were reported by Ktari and Euzet & Ktari in the 1970s. After that, the number has increased with the studies of Neifar (1995, 2001). Since 2001, only 61 species have been reported. This diversity is related to the research effort in terms of the number of studies and the number of fish species examined each year.
The species accumulation curve of this group off the Tunisian waters shows a rising curve that is not reaching the asymptote (Fig. 2). This means that new species (or new records) of monogeneans will continue to be found when other hosts and other areas are examined. This number does not represent the real monogenean fauna of Tunisia but only the number of species reported by the few researchers who have worked in this region. Those described so far represent only a very small proportion of the real richness considering the potential host fauna. It is difficult to have an estimate of relative parasites biodiversity.
The discovery of cryptic species affects estimates of parasites diversity. Several cases show that what was once thought to be a single parasite species infecting a few host species turns out to represent on complex of cryptic species, each specific to a single host species (Poulin & Keeney, 2008). Their discovery depends mostly on the application of molecular methods.
Most Monogenea included in the checklist are restricted to fishes with high commercial value. The parasitological study of fishes with minor commercial interest allows us to complete the list of Monogenea from the coast of Tunisia. Moreover, the parasiofauna of some area such as the eastern coast is not well studied.
This list includes results from our study of Monogenea parasite of fish in the Gulf of Gabes. During this study, we have examined 22 teleost fish species belonging to nine families. A total of 37 species of Monogenea belonging to 16 genera and six families were found (Table 3). Among them 15 species are recorded for the first time off the coast of Tunisia (Table 1). The number of helminth species per host species was variable.