Biology, Systematics, Evolution of Marine Parasites

Ian Whittington | Kate Hutson | Lizzie Perkins

The Monogenean Research Laboratory at The South Australian Museum and The Marine Parasitology Laboratory at The University of Adelaide focus on parasites of marine fishes. Of particular emphasis is the Monogenea, a class of flatworms with a direct life-cycle which chiefly parasitise skin, fins and gills of elasmobranch and teleost fishes. Elements of our research are especially relevant to South Australia because teleost fish reared in sea cage aquaculture in Spencer Gulf can experience parasite problems. Activities, therefore, of some Honours and PhD students continue to investigate features of the biology, epidemiology and treatment of Monogenea on kingfish, Seriola lalandi, in aquaculture. Currently, our research programs embrace several discrete projects investigating parasites of wild and cultivated fish species locally and also overseas. Recent studies have also involved identifying flatworm parasites using morphological and molecular genetic methods in captivity in public display aquaria and from fish farms worldwide to determine how widespread and how host-specific some pathogens are on a global scale.

• Life cycle parameters of the monogenean parasites Zeuxapta seriolae and Benedenia seriolae from Seriola lalandi in South Australian finfish aquaculture
• A survey of parasites from wild and farmed carangids (Seriola lalandi and S. hippos) in southern Australia
  Cryptic species complexes among pathogenic Monogenea on wild and cultivated warm water fishes
• Capsaline Monogenea (Monopisthocotylea) of large, cosmopolitan, migratory pelagic fishes: revisiting species composition, diversity and distribution of the parasites
• Phylogeny and evolution of the Capsalidae (Monogenea), ectoparasitic on a diversity of fishes, using morphological characters, molecular genetics and host associations
• Systematics of Monogenea (Platyhelminthes) from the sharks and rays of Malaysian Borneo
• Efficacy of potential chemotherapeutants against Monogenea of farmed Seriola species
• Stock discrimination of slimy mackerel (Scomber australasicus) throughout Australia and New Zealand using parasites, genetics and otoliths

All our studies are integrated to help us build a more complete picture about the evolution, associations and interactions between marine parasites and their fish hosts. A thorough knowledge of the biology of the parasites will help to develop methods by which they can be managed and controlled on captive hosts in public display aquaria and in aquaculture. During 2009, our parasitological activities will involve 1 postdoctoral fellow, 4 PhD students, 1 Honours student and 1 Research Assistant.

Useful Links

• A Checklist of Monogenean (Platyhelminthes) Parasites of Australia in the ABRS' Australian Faunal Directory
• Parasites of Southern Australian Fishes
• Parasite-host Database on Hexabothriidae (Monogenea)
• Parasitology at The South Australian Museum