Helminth fauna of Leptodactylus syphax (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Caatinga biome, northeastern Brazil

Author(s)

de Souza Lins, Aline Gouveia ; Aguiar, Aline ; Morais, Drausio Honorio ; Firmino da Silva, Lidiane Aparecida ; Avila, Robson Waldemar ; da Silva, Reinaldo Jose

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA; v. 26, n. 1, p. 7-pg., 2017-01-01.

Abstract

Leptodactylus syphax is distributed in central, southeastern and northeastern Brazil, eastern Bolivia and southern Paraguay, occupying open areas and rock outcrops, in rock cavities and termite burrows. We collected 21 frogs from the Caatinga region of the state of Ceara, northeastern Brazil, and 7,021 helminths were recovered from 18 of these hosts (overall prevalence = 85.7%). Six helminth taxa were recovered, as follows: Aplectana membranosa (n = 3,756); Schrankiana formosula (n = 3,176); larvae of Physaloptera sp. (n = 43); unidentified nematode larvae (n = 7); digenean metacercariae of Lophosicyadiplostomum sp. (n = 2); and cystacanths of Acanthocephala (n = 37). The similarity of helminth composition between L. syphax from the Caatinga and other species of the L. fuscus group showed that some anurans were clustered according to parasite species and others according to geographic locality. This study presents new helminth records for the Neotropical region, thus helping in understanding the pattern of species distribution, and it increases the knowledge of parasites associated with amphibians. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/24945-1 - Biodiversity of Helminth associated to amphibians of southern Ceará, Brazil
• Grantee: Drausio Honorio Morais
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral