This study aimed to evaluate the community composition and structure of the helminths found in 13 anuran species, and to evaluate whether this parasite community is determined by anuran characteristics. We found that the helminth fauna of the amphibians from five anuran families consisted of 13 taxa and that Cosmocercidae gen. sp. was the most prevalent taxon, followed by Oswaldocruzia subauricularis. Host body size was a determining factor of the composition and structure of the parasitic fauna. Helminth abundance and richness were positively correlated with host body size. The host Leptodactylus latrans had the highest helminth richness (n = 8). The frog Hypsiboas faber had the greatest helminth diversity (H' = 0.711). The mean helminth species richness and diversity differed significantly between host species (P < 0.05). Taken together, our data indicate that, in sympatric species of amphibians, the morphological and behavioural characteristics of the hosts are important for structuring the helminth parasite communities.
Studies focusing on communities of helminths from Brazilian lizards are increasing, but there are many blanks in the knowledge of parasitic fauna of wild fauna. This lack of knowledge hampers understanding of ecological and parasitological aspects of involved species. Moreover, the majority of research has focused on parasitic fauna of lizards from families Tropiduridae and Scincidae. Only a few studies have looked at lizards from the family Leiosauridae, including some species of Enyalius. This study presents data on the gastrointestinal parasite fauna of Enyalius perditus and their relationships with ecological aspects of hosts in a disturbed Atlantic rainforest area in the state of Minas Gerais, south-eastern Brazil. Two nematode species, Oswaldocruzia burseyi [(Molineidae) and Strongyluris oscari (Heterakidae) were found. Nematode species showed an aggregated distribution in this host population, with O. burseyi being more aggregated than S. oscari. The present study extends the range of occurrence of O. burseyi to the Brazilian continental area. IntroductionThe host -parasite relationship is an important parameter in the study of animal communities, as such relationships affect population dynamics and community structure (Rocha et al. The genus Enyalius Wied, 1821 is comprised of nine species (Sociedade Brasileira de Herpetologia, 2010) of diurnal, insectivorous lizards (Sousa & Cruz, 2008;Barreto-Lima, 2009) well distributed throughout different biomes in Brazil, such as the Atlantic rainforest (Etheridge, 1969;Vanzolini, 1972Vanzolini, , 1974Jackson, 1978), Amazon (Á vila-Pires, 1995;Vitt et al., 1996), Caatinga (semi-arid brush) and Cerrado (savanna-like vegetation) (Bertolotto et al., 2002;Rodrigues et al., 2006). Despite the wide distribution of Enyalius, few studies have addressed its helminth fauna and parasite ecology (Vicente et al., 1993;Durette-Desset et al., 2006;Sousa et al., 2007;Vrcibradic et al., 2007Vrcibradic et al., , 2008. Enyalius perditus
The helminth fauna associated with Leptodactylus latrans, a large frog living in a disturbed environment of Atlantic rainforest in south-eastern Brazil, was evaluated. We found eight helminth taxa, including five nematode species, Falcaustra mascula, Oswaldocruzia subauricularis, Physaloptera sp., Rhabdias sp. and an unidentified cosmocercid, two trematodes, Gorgoderina parvicava and Haematoloechus fuelleborni, and one larval cestode. The overall prevalence of infection was 63.2% with a mean intensity of 11.3 ± 3.8. The cosmocercid nematode and O. subauricularis showed the highest prevalences, although the trematode G. parvicava was the most abundant and dominant parasite species. Host size positively influenced both the intensity of infection and parasite species richness. Our data suggest that the juvenile individuals of L. latrans are more susceptible to parasitic infection than the adults. The comparison of the similarity of this community component with that found in other studies in South America shows that, as well as the characteristics of the host, the sampling area also influences the parasitic fauna. Therefore, the results of this study agree that the helminth communities of frogs have relatively low species richness and dominance of generalist species.
Two amphibian species, Physalaemus cuvieri and Physalaemus olfersii, from Serra do Mar State Park, which is an old-growth environment of the Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil, were surveyed for endoparasites. Hosts were sampled in 2 ponds; each was colonized by only 1 Physalaemus species. The overall prevalence of helminths was high and similar in both amphibian species. The mean intensity of infection in P. olfersii did not differ statistically from that in P. cuvieri . Nine helminth species were found: 2 acanthocephalans, 1 cestode, and 6 nematodes. Parasite richness in the 2 host species was similar. The composition of helminth fauna differed but the 2 hosts shared the most prevalent taxon of nematode (an unidentified species of Cosmocercidae). All helminth species exhibited an aggregated distribution pattern in the host species. The present results demonstrate relatively low species richness and the dominance of generalist parasite species. This study contributes to knowledge regarding the structure and composition of the helminth community in anurans.
Adults of Physalaemus cuvieri were collected and necropsied between November 2009 and January 2010. This was carried out in order to report and compare the helminth fauna associated with two populations of this anuran species from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest under different conditions of habitat integrity. The hosts from the disturbed area were parasitized with five helminth taxa: Cosmocerca parva, Aplectana sp., Physaloptera sp., Rhabdias sp., Oswaldocruzia subauricularis (Nematoda) and Polystoma cuvieri (Monogenea) while those from the preserved area had four helminth taxa: C. parva, Aplectana sp., Physaloptera sp., Rhabdias sp., and Acanthocephalus saopaulensis (Acanthocephala). Prevalence, mean intensity of infection, mean abundance, mean richness, importance index and dominance frequency of helminth component communities were similar in both areas. The helminth community associated with anurans from the disturbed area had higher diversity than that from the preserved area. This study is the first to report on the acanthocephalan parasites of Ph. cuvieri, and the similarity between helminth fauna composition of two host populations under different selective pressures.Keywords: amphibian, Atlantic Rain Forest, component community, helminth fauna, parasites. Comunidade de helmintos parasitos de duas populações dePhysalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826 (Anura: Leiuperidae) sob diferentes condições de integridade de habitat da Mata Atlântica, Brasil ResumoAdultos de Physalaemus cuvieri foram coletados e necropsiados entre Novembro de 2009 e Janeiro de 2010. Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de informar e comparar a helmintofauna associada a duas populações desta espécie de anuro proveniente da Mata Atlântica sob duas condições de integridade de hábitat. Os hospedeiros da área perturbada estavam parasitados por cinco taxa de helmintos: Cosmocerca parva, Aplectana sp., Physaloptera sp., Rhabdias sp., Oswaldocruzia subauricularis (Nematoda) e Polystoma cuvieri (Monogenea), enquanto aqueles da área preservada apresentaram quatro taxa de helmintos: C. parva, Aplectana sp., Physaloptera sp., Rhabdias sp., e Acanthocephalus saopaulensis (Acanthocephala). Prevalência, intensidade média de infecção, abundância média, riqueza média, índice de importância específica e freqüência de dominância da comunidade componente dos helmintos foram similares em ambas as áreas. A comunidade helmíntica associada aos anuros da área perturbada apresentou-se mais diversa do que a encontrada naqueles da área preservada. Este estudo é o primeiro a relatar parasitas acantocéfalos em Ph. cuvieri, e a semelhança entre a composição da helmintofauna de duas populações hospedeiras sob diferentes pressões seletivas.Palavras-chave: anfíbios, Mata Atlântica, comunidade componente, helminto fauna, parasitas.
Specimens (n ¼ 41) of the amphisbaenid Amphisbaena wuchereri taken from a population in Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. A single nematode species was found, Paradollfusnema amphisbaenia. This was a new host record for this nematode species. This parasite was encountered in the large intestine (prevalence of 100%), in the stomach (prevalence of 2%) and in the small intestine (prevalence of 7.3%). The intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 457 individual parasites per host and was positively correlated with body size of both male and female amphisbaenians. The discrepancy index (D) indicated that P. amphisbaenia tended to an even distribution in this host population. The nematode, which did not affect fat body mass, induced inflammatory infiltrations in the small intestine, indicating that the parasites might injure the host's organs.
Rhinella marina es un bufónido grande con hábito nocturno y terrestre, que habita áreas húmedas con cobertura adecuada, con preferencia por hábitat abierto o perturbado como vías, caminos, pastizales bajos y áreas cercanas al asentamiento humano. Con el objetivo de ampliar el conocimiento sobre los anfibios parásitos en la región Neotropical, se registró la fauna de helmintos asociada a R. marina de dos ambientes diferentes en la municipalidad de Tarapoto, Perú fue reportado. Un total de 30 ejemplares de R. marina fueron estudiados para detectar helmintos parásitos: 10 especímenes de Urku - Estudios Amazónicos y de la Reserva Cordillera Escalera (área preservada) y 20 de Santa Rosa (área antropogénica), ambos en la municipalidad de Tarapoto, Perú. El componente de la comunidad de helmintos incluyó ocho especies (siete nematodos y un céstode). Se recuperó un total de 1.799 helmintos, con una intensidad media de infección (IMI) en animales del área preservada (IMI = 57,9 ± 23,8) que no difiere de los del área antropogénica (IMI = 61,0 ± 11,5). El nematodo Oswaldocruzia urubambaensis Guerrero, 2013 fue la especie dominante (d = 0,26) para el área preservada y Cylindrotaenia americana Jewell, 1916 fue la especie dominante (d = 0,46) para el área antropogénica. La riqueza de parásitos entre las dos áreas fue similar y la diversidad de helmintos tampoco fue diferente. El componente de la comunidad de helmintos no mostró diferencias en relación con la riqueza y composición. Sin embargo, la estructura de la comunidad de helmintos muestra una leve diferencia en las infracomunidades, lo que sugiere que las características ambientales pueden influir en la estructuración de helmintos parásitos comunitarios de esta especie de anuro, ya que algunas especies de parásitos presentan diferentes prevalencias, abundancias, y valor de importancia relativa entre las dos infracomunidades.
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