Filling the gaps on parasites of Osteocephalus: Helminth community structure of Osteocephalus cabrerai (Anura: Hylidae) from the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Osteocephalus cabrerai is an arboreal anuran widely distributed in South America. However, there are no parasitological studies conducted on the species, resulting in a parasite fauna completely unknown. Thus, this study aims to characterize the parasitic community structure of O. cabrerai in the municipality of Pedra Branca do Amapari, Amapá state, Amazon region, Brazil. We collected and necropsied 84 specimens of O. cabrerai to search for helminths. Parasite community structure was analyzed using helminth parasite richness, diversity, and abundance. The helminth component community of O. cabrerai comprises six nematode species: Cosmocerca parva, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Oxyascaris oxyascaris, Oswaldocruzia chabaudi, and Physaloptera sp. (larvae). Most helminth species represent the first record for the genus Osteocephalus, except Physaloptera sp. The helminth infections in the host showed a typical aggregated distribution pattern for parasites. We only found a positive correlation between the host weight and total intensity. Our bibliography revision reinforces the need for further studies on the helminth fauna of Osteocephalus spp.

Keywords

• Amphibian
• Brazil
• Diversity
• Ecological
• Nematodes
• Parasite