Abstract

Investigation into taxonomy at the local and regional level is essential. It is necessary to make an inventory of the local biodiversity to enhance the efforts of the region with respect to scientific research. Argentina is one of the most diverse countries in the world and little is known about the diversity of invertebrate species of ichthyoparasites of inland aquatic ecosystems. The Middle Paraná water system hosts a high diversity of fish and thus has as its correlate a diversity of parasites. The study aims to determine the extent of knowledge of the taxonomy of the Middle Paraná ichthyoparasite system. Publications, electronic databases and libraries were surveyed and specialists were consulted. The results obtained were grouped considering taxonomic placement of host and parasite, and locations of study sites of infection in the host body. A total of 50 species of fish hosts has been recognized, mostly Characiformes and Siluriformes (48 and 40%, respectively). The taxa studied were Monogenea (10%), Cestoda (24%), Digenea (27%), Nematoda (12%), Acanthocephala (3%) and Branchiura (11%); 91 metazoan parasites (at generic and/or specific level) were identified. Most of these relationships have been examined in fish of economic importance. The most common infected parts are the intestine and the gills.

Key words: Parasites, Middle Paraná River, Argentina, freshwater fishes, diversity, checklist.