Metacercarias de lafamilia Microphallidae (Trematoda: Digenea) en el anfípodo Hyale grandicornis en la costa de Maule, Chile Central

Abstract

Digeneans have complex life cycles with 2 reproductive phases and 2-3 hosts such as molluscs, crustaceans and vertebrates. Despite numerous records of adult digeneans from many host species of Chile, there are few records in invertebrates. The aim of this study is to provide information about juvenile phases of digeneans in the amphipod Hyale grandicornis (Kröyer, 1845). Ninety-eight amphipods were collected from int ertidal pools at Maule, central coast of Chile. Sixty-four percent of the amphipods were parasitized with 1-25 metacercariae/host individual. Three types metacercariae were distinguished according their shape (spherical or ovalated) and size (between 200 to 375 μm legth). To identify them, the metacercariae were incubated and artificially opened. The morphology of juvenile digeneans of the 3 types of metacercariae corresponded to the family Microphallidae. One type of metacercaria may belong to Maritrematinae; the other two may belong to Microphallinae. The definitive hosts for Microphallidae are principally birds, although some species can be found in fishes, amphibians or mammals. In Chile, there are no records of these digeneans in any group of hosts. In the Coast of Maule usually inhabit many bird species such as Larus, Fulica, and Phalacrocorax genera, so that some of them could be definitive hosts of these digeneans.