Helminth communities of Pontoporia blainvillei (Cetacea: Pontoporiidae) in Argentinian waters

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 702-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Aznar ◽  
J. A. Balbuena ◽  
J. A. Raga

We studied the helminth communities of franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) to establish the relative importance of ecological and evolutionary factors in their organization. Forty-six animals obtained from by-catch in Argentinian waters from 1988 to 1990 were surveyed. The helminth communities were depauperate. Only five helminth species were detected, two of them (Hadwenius pontoporiae and Polymorphus (Polymorphus) cetaceum) accounting for about 99% of all specimens. Three species (H. pontoporiae, P. (P.) cetaceum, and Anisakis simplex) formed a recurrent group. Contrary to the stochasticity observed in other cetacean species, the helminth infracommunities were largely predictable, with little change over the years. The low vagility and coastal bottom-feeding habits of the franciscanas may account for this. The distribution of helminth species among their hosts was bimodal and colonization was nonrandom. This pattern might result from helminth specificity and tnhe specialized diet of the host. The depauperate condition of both the component community and infracommunities contrasts with general predictions for large aquatic endotherms. Comparison with franciscanas from Uruguay suggests that the helminth communities are unsaturated and have low potential for colonization. This probably shows the influence of host evolution on the helminth component community, as previously proposed for other cetacean species.

1997 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.R. Kennedy ◽  
D. Di Cave ◽  
F. Berrilli ◽  
P. Orecchia

AbstractThe composition and diversity of total and intestinal helminth component and infracommunities were determined in eels Anguilla anguilla from four shallow coastal lagoons near Rome. The lagoons differed principally in respect of their salinity. Only Lake Burano still received an input of freshwater, and both freshwater and marine helminth species were found in eels. In the other three lagoons all helminth species were marine or euryhaline and communities were dominated by digeneans. At component community level these three lagoons were far more similar to each other than to Lake Burano, but this distinction almost disappeared at infracommunity level. Species richness and diversity declined with increasing salinity at component community level but not at infracommunity level. Despite the changes and differences in helminth community composition, intestinal helminth infracommunity structure was very similar in all four lagoons and to that in eels from freshwater localities in Britain. The findings thus provide further and unexpected support for the view that some factor(s) other than supply side ones must be operating to produce the fundamental structural similarity in helminth communities in eels.


2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.L. Aguirre-Macedo ◽  
V.M. Vidal-Martínez ◽  
D. González-Solís ◽  
P.I. Caballero

AbstractThe relative importance of ecology and evolution as factors determining species richness and composition of the helminth communities of fish is a matter of current debate. Theoretical studies use host–parasite lists, but these do not include studies on a temporal or spatial scale. Local environmental conditions and host biological characteristics are shown to influence helminth species richness and composition in four fish species (Eugerres plumieri, Hexanematichthys assimilis, Oligoplites saurus, and Scomberomorus maculatus) in Chetumal Bay, Mexico. With the exception of H. assimilis, the helminth communities had not been previously studied and possible associations between environmental and host biological characteristics as factors determining helminth species richness and composition using redundancy analysis (RDA) are described. Thirty-four helminth species are identified, with the highest number of species (19 total (mean = 6.3 ± 2.1)) and the lowest (9 (4.0 ± 1.0)) occurring in H. assimilis and S. maculatus, respectively. The larval nematodes Contracaecum sp. and Pseudoterranova sp. were not only the helminth species shared by all four host species but also were the most prevalent and abundant. Statistical associations between helminth community parameters and local ecological variables such as host habitat use, feeding habits, mobility, and time of residence in coastal lagoons are identified. Phylogeny is important because it clearly separates all four host species by their specialist parasites, although specific habitat and feeding habits also significantly influence the differentiation between the four fish species.


2007 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan-Matías Segovia ◽  
Jordi Torres ◽  
Jordi Miquel ◽  
Enric Sospedra ◽  
Ricardo Guerrero ◽  
...  

AbstractThe present study analyses the helminth communities found in one hundred and two specimens of Martes martes from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Archipelago. The component community is constituted by seventeen helminth species, which frequency and mean abundance show a bimodal pattern. The set of core species is constituted by the trichurids Pearsonema plica, Eucoleus aerophilus and Aonchotheca putorii (72.2% of total helminth individuals found), while the remaining can be considered satellite species. Significant co-occurrences were found among E. aerophilus/A. putorii and E. aerophilus/P. plica. These results demonstrate the great importance of earthworms within the diet of pine marten and contribute to the knowledge of the pine marten’s food ethology, since this kind of prey normally goes undetected in diet studies. Several helminth species, as Sobolevingylus petrowi, Centrorhynchus aluconis, Uncinaria criniformis, Mastophorus muris and Spirura rytipleurites seurati seem to show geographical distributions limited to insular ecosystems. Moreover, helminth communities of M. martes among four Spanish territories, including mainland and insular areas, are characterized and compared.


Author(s):  
Daniel Danilewicz ◽  
Eduardo R. Secchi ◽  
Paulo H. Ott ◽  
Ignacio B. Moreno ◽  
Manuela Bassoi ◽  
...  

The patterns of habitat use by the franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) along its distribution are poorly known. This study investigates the patterns of habitat use with respect to depth for 181 individuals of different age, size, gender and reproductive condition off Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. The results reveal that franciscanas are very homogeneously distributed according to depth. Individuals from all lengths utilize nearly the entire range of depths of the surveyed area. Larger or older animals do not use deeper waters than younger animals, indicating that body size and age are not limiting factors for franciscanas that occupy deeper or offshore waters. Gestation seems to not cause a change in the distribution of females. Although the sex-ratio of the overall data did not vary from 1:1 in different depth intervals, a small-scale comparison between the northern and southern coast demonstrated the existence of some kind of sexual segregation. Franciscana by-catch in Rio Grande do Sul is not sustainable and it is agreed that management procedures are needed. Nevertheless, the available data on species distribution do not allow the designing of a protected area in order to minimize the by-catches of a particular sex/reproductive class.


2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Maldonado Júnior ◽  
R. Gentile ◽  
C.C. Fernandes-Moraes ◽  
P.S. D'Andrea ◽  
R.M. Lanfredi ◽  
...  

AbstractThe water ratNectomys squamipesis endemic in Brazil and found naturally infected withSchistosoma mansoni. Helminth communities, their prevalences, intensity of infection and abundance inN. squamipesin an endemic area of schistosomiasis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were studied. Four species of nematodes (Physaloptera bispiculata, Syphacia venteli,Hassalstrongylus epsilonandLitomosoides chagasfilhoi) were recovered in 85.3%, two trematodes (Schistosoma mansoniandEchinostoma paraensei) in 38.8% and one cestode species (Raillietinasp.) in 1.7% of rats examined. Rats were infected with up to five helminth species each, and these were highly aggregated in distribution. ForH. epsilonandS. venteli, intensities and abundances were higher in adult male and subadult female hosts, respectively.Hassaltrongylus epsilon,P. bispiculata,S. venteliandS. mansoniwere classified as dominant species,L. chagasfilhoiandE. paraenseias co-dominant andRaillietinasp. as subordinated. No significant correlation was found in the intensity of infecton between each pair of helminth species.Schistosoma mansoniwas not related to any other helminth species according to their infection rates, althougthS. mansoniwas well established in the natural helminth comunity of the water rat.


2016 ◽  
pp. 5189-5197
Author(s):  
Charles W Olaya-Nieto ◽  
Liquey Camargo-Herrera ◽  
Vanessa Díaz-Sajonero ◽  
Fredys F Segura-Guevara

ABSTRACTObjective. The feeding habits of Cocobolo (Andinoacara pulcher) in the cienaga Grande de Lorica, Sinu river basin, were studied. Materials and methods. The stomach content was analyzed using the Proportion of empty stomachs, Grade of digestion, Frequency of occurrence, numerical Frequency, Gravimetry, relative importance Index (RII) and the gut length-total length relationship. Results. 39.8% of stomachs were empty, 47.1% of preys were fresh and five food groups were identified. Vegetable remains was the most frequent group (63.8%) and the prey with greatest composition in weight (33.5%), while Rest of fishes was the most abundant group (34.7%). It was observed that in low and rising waters, fishes was the most consumed prey, while that in high and falling waters the most consumed prey was vegetable remains. Vegetable remains, detritus and fishes were food groups of secondary relative importance, while Insects and Others were circumstantial or incidental groups. Conclusions. The results achieved indicate that Cocobolo is a fish with omnivores feeding habits with a preference for fishes and vegetable remains. RESUMEN Objetivo. Se estudiaron los hábitos alimentarios de Cocobolo (Andinoacara pulcher) en la ciénaga Grande de Lorica, cuenca del río Sinú, Colombia. Materiales y Métodos. El contenido estomacal se evaluó con el Coeficiente de vacuidad, Grado de llenado, Grado de digestión, Frecuencia de ocurrencia, Frecuencia numérica, Gravimetría, Índice de importancia relativa y la relación longitud intestinal- longitud total. Resultados. El 39.8% de los estómagos se encontró vacío, el 47.1% de las presas en estado fresco y se identificaron cinco grupos alimentarios. Material vegetal fue el grupo más frecuente (63.8%) y con mayor composición por peso (33.5%), mientras que Restos de peces fue el más abundante (34.7%). Se observó que en aguas bajas y en aguas ascendentes, peces fue la presa más consumida, mientras que en aguas altas y aguas descendentes, fue material vegetal. Material vegetal, detritos y restos de peces fueron grupos alimentarios de importancia relativa secundaria, mientras que insectos y otros fueron circunstanciales o incidentales. Conclusiones. Los resultados alcanzados indican que Cocobolo es un pez de hábitos alimentarios omnívoros con preferencia por peces y material vegetal.


2013 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Pakdeenarong ◽  
P. Siribat ◽  
K. Chaisiri ◽  
B. Douangboupha ◽  
A. Ribas ◽  
...  

AbstractThe helminth communities of wild murid rodents were investigated in Luang Prabang and Champasak province, Lao PDR. Thirteen species of rodents (404 individuals) were infected by 19 species of parasites (2 trematode, 3 cestode, 14 nematode species). Four of the recorded helminth species (Echinostoma malayanum,Raillietinasp.,Hymenolepis diminutaandH. nana)are known to cause potential zoonotic helminthiases of medical importance in the South-East Asian region. Individual helminth infection was significantly higher in the wet season. Habitat significantly influenced individual helminth species richness and individual helminth abudance, with a decrease of individual helminth species richness and individual helminth abundance from forest habitat to agricultural and human settlement habitats. The reduction of helminth diversity and abundance is discussed in relation to the ongoing increase of human influence on habitats in Lao PDR.


Author(s):  
Caterina Maria Fortuna ◽  
Simonepietro Canese ◽  
Michela Giusti ◽  
Eletta Revelli ◽  
Pierpaolo Consoli ◽  
...  

Drift-nets are known to result in high incidental catches of some cetacean species. Despite a UN moratorium on their use in the high seas and a ban in the Mediterranean by all European Union countries, including Italy (EC Reg. 1239/98), some fisheries continue to operate illegally. In 2002 and 2003 three line-transect surveys were conducted in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea around the Aeolian archipelago. These transects were designed to assess the presence, distribution and population size of cetacean species likely to be affected by accidental captures in this area. Data were only sufficient to estimate abundance for the striped dolphin. The best estimate (and first such estimate for this area) was 4030 individuals (CV=0.30, 95% CI=2239–7253) for May 2003. A rough estimate of striped dolphin by-catch, based on floating carcases, was calculated as 36 by-caught animals over a period of 12 days (CV=0.58, 95% CI=11–113). These results, although approximate, are a cause for concern. Conservation and management implications of the results are discussed.


1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 473 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Beveridge ◽  
N. B. Chilton ◽  
P. M. Johnson ◽  
L. R. Smales ◽  
R. Speare ◽  
...  

The occurrence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in 40 Macropus agilis, 12 M. antilopinus, 39 M. dorsalis, 28 M. giganteus, 29 M. parryi, 30 M. robustus and 26 Wallabia bicolor from north and central Queensland was examined. A total of 124 morphologically defined species of helminth was encountered, comprising 103 species of strongyloid nematodes, 6 species of trichostrongyloid nematodes, 2 species of spiruroid nematodes, 4 species of oxyuroid nematodes, 7 species of anoplocephalid cestodes and 2 species of digenetic trematodes. Helminth communities in each macropodid host species exhibited a high level of diversity, and were dominated numerically by strongyloid nematodes. A high proportion of the helminth species was restricted to a single host species and there was a low level of similarity between helminth communities in different host species. Similarities that did occur were not apparently related to the phylogenetic relationships between hosts and are best explained by host switching between hosts sharing overlapping habitats and feeding preferences. There was poor separation of the helminth species into ‘core’, ‘secondary’ and ‘satellite’ members of communities.


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