Parasite communities of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from Patagonia: the relation with host distribution and diet and comparison with sympatric hosts

BERÓN-VERA, B., E.A. CRESPO J.A. RAGA & M. FERNÁNDEZ.

JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY

AMER SOC PARASITOLOGISTS

Año: 2007 vol. 93 p. 1056 - 1060

0022-3395

We studied the helminths of 18 common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, from northern Patagonia. Parasites were found only in the gastrointestinal tract. Four species were in the stomach, i.e., the nematode Anisakis simplex, the acanthocephalan Corynosoma cetaceum, and the digeneans Braunina cordiformis, and Pholeter gastrophilus, plus 1 digenean in the hepatopancreatic ducts, Oschmarinella rochebruni. Infection levels were low (0-155 parasites). Braunina cordiformis and C. cetaceum were the most prevalent species. Anisakis simplex was mainly recovered from the forestomach, B. cordiformis, in the main stomach, and C. cetaceum in the pyloric stomach. Component diversity was low and component evenness was intermediate. Infracommunity diversity was also low and the mean evenness was higher than at the component community level. Low prevalence in common dolphins is consistent with parasite assemblages of other cetaceans off Patagonia. None of the parasites found is specific to this host species within the study area. We suggest potential prey that may be probably important in parasite transmission in this and other dolphins from the Patagonian region.