Helminths of 26 species of microhylid frogs (Anura: Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Abstract

In an attempt to better document the invertebrate biodiversity of the threatened fauna of Papua New Guinea (PNG), 208 microhylid frogs representing 13 species collected in 2009 and 2010 in PNG were examined for endoparasitic helminths. This study found mature individuals of one species of Digenea (Opisthioglyphe cophixali), adults of two species of Cestoda (Nematotaenia hylae, Cylindrotaenia sp.) and cysticerci of an unidentified cestode species; adults of nine species of Nematoda (Aplectana krausi, Bakeria bakeri, Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Cosmocercella phrynomantisi, Falcaustra papuensis, Icosiella papuensis, Ochtoterenella papuensis, Parathelandros allisoni, Parathelandros andersoni), and one species of Acanthocephala (cystacanths in the family Centrorhynchidae). There was a high degree of endemism among the helminth species infecting the microhylids, with 83% of the species known only from PNG. Yet the helminth fauna infecting Papuan microhylids are generalists with direct life cycles (no intermediate host) that also infect other anuran species. We thus conclude infection is more dependent upon habitat conditions than diet. Twenty-nine new host records are reported.

A new species of Cosmocerca (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) and other helminths from Barygenys atra (Anura, Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

“…This represents a small complement of helminth species compared to many other Papuan frogs. The only congener previously studied (Barygenys exsul) hosts at least five species, including the closely related Cosmocerca tyleri (see Goldberg et al 2009b). Similarly, other fossorial microhylids (e.g., Callulops personata, C. robusta, Oxydactyla crassa) host at least three species, but non-fossorial frogs may host up to ten (Goldberg et al 2009b).…”

Gastrointestinal helminths of Choerophryne proboscidea and Xenorhina parkerorum (Anura: Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

“…Cosmocerella phrynomantisi has been reported from six species of microhylid frogs from Papua New Guinea (Goldberg et al 2009a, Bursey et al 2014b, Cosmocercella phrynomantisi had the highest mean intensity (107.9 ± 68.9 SD) and number of helminths (1668) ( Table 1). xenorhina parkerorum is a new host record for Cosmocercella phrynomantisi.…”

“…The site of infection was assumed to be the body cavity. Choerophryne proboscidea is a new host record for I. papuensis Based on previous studies , 2009a,b,c, Bursey et al 2008, 2014a it is apparent that anurans from Papua New Guinea are infected by a community of generalist helminths capable of infecting a variety of hosts. There is a high level of endemism, with at least 27 species of these helminths infecting endemic from both Australia and Papua New Guinea, and seven are known from Australia, Papua New Guinea and other areas (Goldberg et al 2009a).…”

“…It is widespread in the New Guinean helminth community and has been et al 2009b), seven species of ceratobatrachid frogs (Goldberg et al 2009b), seven species of hylid frogs (Bursey et al 2009, Goldberg et al 2009c, twelve species of microhylid frogs (Goldberg et al 2009a) and one species of limnodynastid frog ) from Papua New Guinea. Both C. novaeguineae and C. phrynomantisi had prevalences of 48% (Table 1).…”

“…data). Although microhylids from Papua New Guinea have been the subject of numerous helminthological studies (Johnston 1967, Moravec and Sey 1986, 1990, Moravec 1990, Bursey et al 2006, 2008, 2014a,b, Goldberg et al 2007, 2009a,b,c, 2010, most species have not been examined for helminths. Herein we report the initial helminth list for Choerophryne proboscidea and xenorhina parkerorum as part of a survey of the helminth parasites of amphibians and reptiles from Papua New Guinea.…”