Prevalencia de Clinostomum sp. en Andinoacara rivulatus capturada en el Cantón Pichincha, Manabí, Ecuador

Anthony Mera-Murillo; Christopher Leandro Lago-Santana; Christopher Josué Lago-Santana

doi:10.56124/yaku.v9i17.003

Authors

Anthony Mera-Murillo Carrera Biología, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida y Tecnologías, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Manta. Ecuador.
Christopher Leandro Lago-Santana Carrera Biología, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida y Tecnologías, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Manta. Ecuador.
Christopher Josué Lago-Santana Carrera Biología, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida y Tecnologías, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Manta. Ecuador.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56124/yaku.v9i17.003

Keywords:

Clinostomum, Andinoacara rivulatus, parasite prevalence

Abstract

Parasites of the genus Clinostomum affect freshwater fish as intermediate hosts. In Ecuador, knowledge regarding these infections in native species is scarce, particularly in Manabí. A total of 205 specimens of Andinoacara rivulatus (106 males and 99 females) caught in the inland waters of the Pichincha canton between August 2025 and May 2026 were examined. Parasitological parameters, Fulton's condition factor, and the length-weight relationship were calculated. The overall prevalence was 16.59% (95% CI: 11.86–22.43%), with a mean intensity of 10.79 parasites per infected host and a mean abundance of 1.79. Pearson's chi-squared test showed a significantly higher infection rate in females (24.24%; 95% CI: 16.32–34.14%) than in males (9.43%; 95% CI: 4.85–16.95%; chi-squared = 7.08; p = 0.008). Because females had a smaller body size, a binomial generalised linear model (GLM) was applied, confirming that sex significantly influenced infection regardless of size (OR = 0.288; 95% CI: 0.113–0.672; p = 0.006). Metacercariae were located exclusively on the fins. No significant differences were found in the condition factor between infected and uninfected fish (p = 0.505). The length-weight relationship showed positive allometric growth (b = 3.098; 95% CI: 3.004–3.192; p = 0.042). It is concluded that Clinostomum sp. infects Andinoacara rivulatus, with a predominance in females and a preferential location on the fins, without affecting body condition. Biological and molecular studies are recommended for the specific identification of the parasite species.

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