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Journal of Helminthology Feb 2024In Brazil, acanthocephalans parasitise anurans in several biomes. In the present study, we performed an analysis of acanthocephalan infections across 175 anuran...
In Brazil, acanthocephalans parasitise anurans in several biomes. In the present study, we performed an analysis of acanthocephalan infections across 175 anuran individuals from the Cerrado biome, belonging to ten species: , , and We also verified the specificity of the parasites using the * index. Additionally, we conducted a survey of acanthocephalan infection in anurans in South America. The studied assemblage in the Brazilian Cerrado presented 57 parasitised hosts of 175 specimens (overall prevalence: 32.6%). In total, 437 acanthocephalans cystacanths were recorded, among which 286 presented the same morphotype but could not be identified, 148 belonged to the genus , and three belonged to . Unidentified acanthocephalans had a higher prevalence in (53.85%) and the highest intensity was in (17±16). The highest prevalence of sp. was in the species (28.57%), while the highest intensity was observed in (111). The taxon sp. it had a prevalence of 3.23% and an intensity of 3 only in S. . The highest specificity was recorded for sp. (*= 1), whereas the lowest was found in sp. (*= 2.21). Finally, according to the survey for South America, we found ten records of acanthocephalan taxa parasitizing 58 species of anurans distributed in seven countries (Brazil with the most records).
Topics: Humans; Animals; Brazil; Acanthocephala; Anura; Ecosystem; Prevalence
PubMed: 38305058
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X24000038 -
Parasitology Research Jun 2024Acanthocephalans, in their adult stage, are obligatory parasites of many types of vertebrates, including anuran amphibians. Their complex life cycle always involves an...
Acanthocephalans, in their adult stage, are obligatory parasites of many types of vertebrates, including anuran amphibians. Their complex life cycle always involves an arthropod intermediate host but may include non-obligatory strategies that could improve transmission success, such as paratenic infections. In paratenic hosts, these parasites are normally found loose in the body cavity or encysted in internal organs. Here, we present the first report of acanthocephalans found encysted under the skin of an amphibian (i.e., external to its body cavity). The specimen, a clay robber frog [Haddadus binotatus (Spix, 1824)], had been collected in an Atlantic Forest area in southeastern Brazil. Upon examination of the frog, we recovered two specimens of acanthocephalan (Order Echinorhynchida) encysted under the skin of its venter. Considering the host's relatively small size and its thin ventral musculature, we believe that the acanthocephalans may have accidentally trespassed the muscular tissue while attempting to encyst in the frog's internal body wall.
Topics: Animals; Acanthocephala; Brazil; Anura; Helminthiasis, Animal; Skin
PubMed: 38884663
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08270-6