Helminth fauna of Lithobates brownorum (Anura: Ranidae) at three localities in the state of Yucatán, Mexico

Abstract

Between July 2004 and June 2005, 84 specimens of Lithobates brownorum (Sanders, 1973) were collected and examined for helminths. Hosts came from 3 localities in the state of Yucatán, Mexico: Celestún (n= 35), Lagunas de Yalahau (n= 33), and Ría Lagartos (n= 16). Twelve helminth taxa were found: 7 nematodes, 4 digeneans, and 1 acanthocephalan. With the exception of Haematoloechus floedae and Megalodiscus temperatus, all helminth taxa found have a Neotropical distribution. Our results differ from those obtained in previous studies dealing with amphibians in Mexico because we found higher richness and abundance of nematodes than digenean species. The relatively low mean intensity and mean abundance values reached by digenean species in this study may be related to the generalist host diet and with the vagility of frogs (from the aquatic to the terrestrial environment or vice versa).