Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 68:209-215 (2001)
Lamproglena hoi n.sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeidae)
from two yellowfish hosts, 8arbus marequensis and
8arbus polylepis, caught in a river in Mpumalanga,
South Africa
S.M. DIPPENAAR\ W.J. LUUS-POWELL1 and F. ROUX 2
ABSTRACT
DIPPENAAR, S.M ., LUUS-POWELL, w.J. & ROUX, F. 2001. Lamproglena hoi n.sp. (Copepoda:
Lernaeidae) from two yellowfish hosts, Barbus marequensis and Barbus polylepis, caught in a river
in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 68:209-215
Lamproglena hoi n.sp. species was collected from the gill filaments of largescale yellowfish, Barbus
marequensis A. Smith, 1841 and smallscale yellowfish, Barbus polylepis Boulenger, 1907 from the
Spekboom River, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The genus Lamproglena is characterized. Morphological features of L. hoi are described and illustrated by means of drawings and scanning electron micrographs. This species is also compared with congener species described from other Barbus spp.
Keywords: Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Lamproglena hoi, morphology, Barbus marequensis, Barbus
polylepis, South Africa
INTRODUCTION
The genus Lamproglena was established in 1832 by
Alexander von Nordmann and currently comprises
37 nominated species with a cosmopolitan distribution. Piasecki (1993) mentioned a total of 41 species
(and subspecies), but he failed to list the species and/
or subspecies which he at the time considered as
valid species of Lamproglena. The number of species
he mentioned possibly includes species that have
been synonymized or transferred to other lernaeid
genera. For example, Lamproglena aubentoni
Dollfus, 1960 was synonymized with Lamproglena
hemprichii (Fryer 1964); Lamproglena nyasae Fryer,
1956 was synonymized with Lamproglena monodi
(Fryer 1959) and Lamproglena ophiocephali Yamaguti , 1939 with Lamproglena chinensis (Sproston, Yin
& Hu 1950); Lamproglena intercedens Fryer, 1964
1
Department of Zoology & Biology, University of the North ,
Private Bag X11 06, Sovenga, 0727 South Africa
E-mail address: susand@unin.unorth.ac.za
2
Research and Development, Mpumalanga Parks Board, Private Bag X1088, Lydenburg, 1120 South Africa
Accepted for publication 6 June 2001-Editor
was transferred to Catlaphilla (Ho 1998); Lamproglena gurayai Battish & Brar, 1989 was transferred
to Indolemaea seengalae (Ho 1998) and Lamproglena seenghalae Kumari, Khera & Gupta, 1989 to
Indolemaea (Ho 1998). Therefore, it seems that the
species complex of the genus is still very confusing
because of the very scanty and incomplete descriptions of many of the existing species.
All the species of this genus are gill parasites of freshwater fish, except Lamproglena lichiae Von Nordmann, 1832, controversially collected from the
doublespotted queenfish (Scomberoides Iysan
(Forsskal, 1775)) from the Red Sea (Fryer 1968). Of
the 37 species, 13 have been reported from Africa
with four of them (L. monodi Capart, 1944; Lamproglena clariae Fryer, 1956; Lamproglena barbicola
Fryer, 1961; and Lamproglena comuta Fryer, 1964)
being recorded from southern Africa.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Copepods were collected from the gill filaments of
both largescale, Barbus marequensis A. Smith, 1841
and smallscale yellowfish, Barbus polylepis Boulenger, 1907 that were caught in the Spekboom River
209
Lamproglena hoi n.sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) in Mpumalanga, South Africa
210
S.M . DIPPENAAR, w.J. LUUS-POWELL & F. ROUX
and has the same width as the "neck". The genital
complex is unsegmented . Orifices of oviducts situated ventrolaterally on the genital complex. Abdomen
indistinctly three-segmented , segments slightly decreaSing in length and width from anterior to posterior, proximal part of first segment of same width as
"neck" and "waist". Caudal rami (Fig. 1H, 3E and F)
fused with abdomen, each with one prominent seta
terminally and two smaller setae, one laterally and
one medially to prominent seta.
in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Their specifics regarding field collections are recorded below. The collected
parasites were fixed and preserved in 70 % ethanol.
In the laboratory, they were cleaned and studied,
using the wooden slide technique (Humes & Gooding
1964). Before being dissected, the copepods were
cleared and stained in lactic acid into which a small
amount of lignin pink had been dissolved. Measurements were made using an ocular micrometer and
drawings were made with the aid of a camera lucida. For scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies, the material to be studied was dehydrated
through graded ethanol, followed by immersion in
hexamethyldisilanzane for 30 min . Before mounting,
specimens were dried by placing them in a slight
vacuum to remove the hexamethyldisilanzane, and
after mounting it was sputter-coated with gold-palladium. Anatomical terminology used in this report
conforms mostly to that of Kabata (1979).
First antenna (Fig. 1C) uniramous, indistinctly twosegmented, tapering from broad base to apex, with
22 setae (of varying sizes) on basal segment and
nine setae on small distal segment. Second antenna
(Fig . 1 D) uniramous, indistinctly four-segmented ,
tapering; basal segment short and broader than other
three segments, unarmed; second segment distally
with an elevated area, bearing 8-10 small setae of
the same size; thi rd segment unarmed ; terminal segment (Fig. 1E) bearing four setae on inner surface
with distal seta larger, situated on thumb-like elevation and five setae on terminal margin (two on elevated area, three below elevated area). Oral region
surrounded by sucker-like structure (Fig. 3B) surrounding the oral region consisting of six distinct
bumps . Mandible and first maxilla not observed.
Second maxilla (Fig . 1F) uniramous , robust , twosegmented, each devoid of setae ; basal segment
short and broad ; subchela with shaft tapering, ending in a conspicuous claw, claw curved and heavily
sclerotized. Maxilliped (Fig. 1G, 3C) subchelate, twosegmented, corpus broad and about twice as long
as subchela, unarmed ; subchela tipped with three
claws of about equal size, one with sp ine-like
extention at basis.
Characteristics of the genus Lamproglena
The genus Lamproglena can be distinguished by the
following characteristics: body distinctly divided into
cephalothorax, free leg-bearing thoracic segments
and abdomen; cephalothorax partially separated from
first leg-bearing thoracic segment; first and second
leg-bearing thoracic segments form a distinct neck;
third and fourth thoracic segments form incipient
trunk; fifth thoracic segment usually separating genital complex from anterior thoracic segments by forming a waist-like constriction ; abdomen three segmented; antennae setose; maxi IIi peds tipped with
one to five claws; thoracic legs indistinctly or distinctly
segmented.
Legs 1-4 biramous, with three-segmented exopod
and two-segmented endopod . Sympod of subsequent legs gradually diminishes in size. Exopod of
legs 1-4 with long seta on outer margin of basal
segment, smaller seta distally on outer margin of
second segment, distal segment with varying armature. Endopod of legs 1-4 with basal segment unarmed and distal segment with varying armature. Leg
1 (Fig. 2A) distal segment of exopod with four apical
setae (two long setae medially and two short setae
laterally) ; distal segment of endopod with one large
seta terminally and one smaller distolateral seta. Leg
2 (Fig. 2B) distal segment of exopod with two unequal
apical setae; distal segment of endopod with two
apical conical processes and three small processes
on medial margin. Leg 3 (Fig. 2C) distal segment of
Lamproglena hoi n.sp.
The specimens collected from both host species
show the same morphological features. Female (Fig.
1-3). Body (Fig . 1A, B) elongated , approximately 3
mm long (n = 10, range 2,7-3,3 mm) , with indistinct
segmentation . Four distinct constrictions divide the
organism into "head", "neck", ''two-segmented trunk",
"waist" (see Piasecki 1993), genital complex and
abdomen. Dorsal surface of "head" (cephalothorax)
(Fig. 3A) with specific patterns of more heavily sclerotized regions, as well as traces of nuchal organ , located centrally. The "neck" consists of the first two
fused leg-bearing thoracic segments, while thoracic
segments bearing legs 3 and 4, constitute the "trunk".
The "waist" is formed by the fifth leg-bearing segment
FIG . 1 Lamproglena hoi adult female
A
C
E
G
General habitus, ventral view
First antenna
Tip of second antenna
Maxilliped
B
D
F
H
General habitus, dorsal view
Second antenna
Second maxilla
Caudal rami
211
Lamprogiena hoi n.sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) in Mpumalanga, South Africa
FIG . 2 Lamprogiena hoi adult female
25 f.lm
212
A
B
C
D
E
Leg
Leg
Leg
Leg
Leg
1
2
3
4
5
S.M. DIPPENAAR, w.J. LUUS-POWELL & F. ROUX
exopod with two apical setae of equal size; distal
segment of endopod with one apical conical process.
Leg 4 (Fig. 2D) distal segment of exopod with two
small, equal sized apical setae and one small sub-
apical seta medially; distal segment of endopod with
very small apical and medial processes. Leg 5 (Fig .
2E, 3D) reduced, present as a bump tipped with two
setae and a third seta anterior to elevated bump.
FIG.3 Lamprog/ena hoi adult female
A
C
E
Cephalothorax, dorsal view, nuchal organ (arrowed)
Maxilliped, spine-like extension (arrowed)
Caudal rami , ventral view
B
D
F
Cephalothorax, ventral view, sucker-like structure (arrowed)
Leg 5
Armature of caudal ramus
213
Lamproglena hoi n.sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) in Mpumalanga, South Africa
Host, locality and date of capture
Barbus marequensis A. Smith, 1841 and Barbus
polylepis Boulenger, 1907 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) caught in the Spekboom River (24 °54 ' S
30 24'E), Mpumalanga, South Africa on 12 July 1999.
0
Specimens collected and infection site
Twenty females from Barbus marequensis and three
females from Barbus polylepis, attached to lamellae
of gill filaments. No males were collected .
Type material
Three females from Barbus marequensis and one
female from Barbus polylepis deposited in the South
African Museum (SAM A44828 and SAM A44829,
respectively), remaining female specimens have
been retained in the personal collection of the first
author.
Etymology
The species epithet, hoi, honours Prof. Ju-shey Ho
for his fine contributions to our understanding of symbiotic Copepoda.
DISCUSSION
To date two species of Lamproglena have been recorded from three species of Barbus. L. barbicola was
found on Barbus altianalis radcliffi from Lake Victoria, Africa (Fryer 1961), while Lamproglena jordani
Paperna, 1964 was collected from both B. canis and
B. longiceps from Lake Tiberias, Israel (Paperna
1964).
In comparing Lamproglena hoi with L. jordani (Paperna 1964), it is clear that the shape of the body differs considerably. L. jordani does not have the distinct
"neck" that divides the body into a "head" and "trunk"
as observed in L. hoi. The free thoracic segments are
partly fused in L. jordani whereas those of L. hoi are
distinctly separated by constrictions between the
second and third leg-bearing segments as well as the
third and fourth leg-bearing segments. The abdomen
of L. jordani is two-segmented, while that of L. hoi is
indistinctly three-segmented. The first antenna of L.
jordani is in essence similar to that of L. hoi, but on
that of L. hoi setae were found mostly along the anterior margin (Fig . 1C), with only a few setae scattered over the rest of the appendage. The segmentation and chaetotaxy of the second antenna of L. hoi
differs from that of L. jordani. If we assume that our
interpretation of the segmentation (Fig . 1 D) differs
from that of Paperna (1964) (cf. Plate III A2 ), there
are still differences in the chaetotaxy, especially that
of the terminal segment (Fig. 1 E). The second maxilla of L. hoi has only one claw whereas that of L.
214
jordani consists of one large claw and one small hook
distally. The maxillipeds of the two species are very
alike. The legs of the two species greatly differ in
structure and armature.
L. hoi seems to be very similar to L. barbicola (Fryer
1961), but L. hoiis about2 mm (almost 50%) shorter
in overall length with distinct differences in segmentation. In L. hoi there are no constrictions between
leg-bearing segments one and two, or between the
adjacent segments of the abdomen , or between the
abdomen and the caudal rami. L. hoi has an array of
22 setae on the anterior margin of the first segment
of the first antenna whereas this segment in L.
barbicola lacks the anterior fringe of setae. The second antenna of the two species seem to be similar,
except for the interpretation of the segmentation (ef.
Fig. 9 in Fryer (1961) with Fig. 1D, E in this report)
and although Fryer (1961) did not discuss the setation of the second antenna, a comparison of his illustration with that of our specimen clearly indicates vast
differences. L. barbicola has a wide-walled , horseshoe-shaped, sucker-like structure surrounding the
oral region whereas this structure in L. hoi consists
of six distinct bumps [ef. Fig. 6 in Fryer (1961) with
Fig. 3B in this report]. The second maxilla and maxilliped of the two species are similar. Thoracic legs 1-4
of L. hoi demonstrate obvious differences in setation
in comparison with that of L. barbicola. L. barbicola's
thoracic legs all display a similar structure with twosegmented exo- and endopods bearing uniform armature [ef. Fig. 10 in Fryer (1961)] whereas that of
L. hoi display a different structure with three-segmented exopods and two-segmented endopods and
a more complex armature (Fig . 2A-D) .
After reviewing the literature of Lamproglena, L. hoi
shows much similarity in general appearance with L.
lichiae (see Piasecki 1993), apparently being the only
marine species within the generally accepted freshwater genus Lamproglena. The term inal segment of
the first antenna of L.lichiae apparently has only two
small setae, whereas that of L. hoi has nine setae.
The tip of the second antenna of L. lichiae has five
short spines while that of L. hoi is surmounted by five
long , apical and four subapical setae of varying sizes.
L. lichiae has the same structure covering the oral
region as that of L. hoi [cf. Fig. 35 in Piasecki (1993)
with Fig. 3B in this report)\], while the second maxilla and maxilliped also seem to be similar for the two
species.
REMARKS
It seems as if the species composition of the genus
Lamproglena is very confusing due to scanty descriptions and incomplete illustrations. Therefore the authors suggest that a complete and thorough revision
of the genus, should be undertaken.
S.M. DIPPENAAR , w.J. LUUS-POWELL & F. ROUX
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank the Department of Zoology and
Biology and the Electron Microscope Unit of the
University of the North for the use of their facilities,
the University of the North for financial support, and
the Photographic Section, University of the North for
photographic assistance. We would also like to express our gratitude to Professors J.-S. Ho and PAS.
Olivier for their interest and assistance with the
manuscript.
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