First Records of Trichodinid Ectoparasites (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) from Introduced Freshwater Fishes in Tasmania, Australia, with Comments on Pathogenicity

During parasitological surveys in Tasmania (Australia), four introduced fish species were investigated for the presence of trichodinid ectoparasites. Five trichodinid species were found on the skin, fins and gills of two of these fishes, i.e. the tench Tinca tinca Linnaeus, 1758 and the red fin perch Perca fluviatillis Linnaeus, 1758. Four trichodinids are known species for which comparative descriptions are provided, i.e. Trichodina acuta Lom, 1961, T. esocis Lorn, 1961, T. lepsii Lorn, 1962 and Trichodinella epizootica (Raabe 1950) Sramek-Husek, 1953. A fifth species, i.e. Trichodina tunnae sp. n. is described as a new species from the red fin perch. All species are described using silver impregnated and hematoxylin stained specimens.