Millions of ornamental fish are exported from over 100 countries worldwide. However, there is currently no legislation in South Africa requiring that imported fish be quarantined. Between October 2020 and July 2024, 748 ornamental fish comprising 38 species from 14 families were received either from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand using an established South African trading company. Standard procedures were applied when transporting, handling, and dissecting fish including the examination, fixation, and preservation of parasites. Of the fish examined, 16 species (42%) were infected by five parasitic groups i.e. Ciliate, Monopisthocotyla, Cestoda, Nematoda, and Crustacea, represented by 31 species and 21 genera. The monopistocotylans were the most prevalent and were reported from 14 fish species investigated. Carassius auratus was the species that was observed to be infected by the highest number of parasite species while an invasive species, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi, was found in Cichlasoma sp. and a new genus of monopisthocotylan parasite was identified from Glossolepis incisa.The findings indicate that systematic screening of parasites from ornamental fish is essential to raise awareness of the potential threats these parasites may pose if introduced into local systems.
Financially supported by the DSI-NRF SARChI Chair (No.101054).