Helminth parasites of the Neotropical treefrog Itapotihyla langsdorffii in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Itapotihyla langsdorffii is a large-bodied hylid frog endemic to the Atlantic Forest, occurring in Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. Information on its endoparasite fauna is currently restricted to one old report of a nematode (Aplectana sp.). In the present study we analyse for the first time the endoparasite assemblage associated with a population of Itapotihyla langsdorffii, assessing its infection parameters. We examined 27 specimens from an Atlantic Forest remnant in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, of which 85% were infected by helminths. Ten helminth species were recorded in the hosts (plus indeterminate cosmocercids and larval nematodes that could potentially represent additional species). The helminths occurring with the highest prevalences (48% and 37%, respectively) were Polystoma sp. (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea) and Cosmocercidae indet. (Nematoda). Helminth richness was positively influenced by host body size and was greater in females than in males. On the other hand, host size did not seem to influence the infection intensity of the most common parasites. The present survey indicated that Itapotihyla langsdorffii has one of the richest endoparasite faunas among South American hylids, including both heteroxenous and monoxenous species (although they seemingly serve as final hosts only for the latter).