Helminth endoparasites of endemic fish Pygocentrus piraya (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae) from Três Marias reservoir, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Ten endoparasite species found in Pygocentrus piraya, which is a piranha species native to São Francisco river, were collected from 108 fish caught in Três Marias reservoir in 2004 and 2005, namely: Digenea - Austrodiplostomum sp. (metacercariae); Eucestoda - Proteocephalidae gen. sp. (plerocercoids); and Nematoda - Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Cystidicoloides fischeri and Capillostrongyloides sentinosa (adults); Spinitectus rodolphiheringi (juvenile); Hysterothylacium sp., Contracaecum sp. Type 1, Spiroxys sp. and Goezia sp. (larvae). In helminth fauna, P. (S.) inopinatus has shown higher prevalence and dominance. Fish sex has influenced the prevalence of Hysterothylacium sp., which was higher in female specimens. Longer total length of fish has positively influenced the abundance of C. sentinosa and Hysterothylacium sp.. The rainy season has favored parasitic indices, mainly P. (S.) inopinatus abundance, as well C. sentinosa and Hysterothylacium sp. prevalence and abundance. There were co-occurrences between adult and some larval nematodes. Endemic piranhas, as well as final hosts, are important intermediate and/or paratenic hosts, given the relevant number of larvae (proteocephalideans and nematodes) of heteroxene cycle found in them. Proteocephalidae gen. sp., C. sentinosa, Hysterothylacium sp., Contracaecum sp. Type 1, Goezia sp. and S. rodolphiheringi are new records parasitizing P. piraya in São Francisco basin.