MOLECULAR AND NEW MORPHOLOGICAL DATA ON NEMATODE HEDRURIS DRATINI FOUND PARASITIZING PSEUDIS MINUTA (ANURA: HYLIDAE)

MARTIN MIGUEL MONTES; YASMÍN CROCI; JORGE BARNECHE; DARIO BALCAZAR; GERMAN REIG CARDARELLA; SERGIO R. MARTORELLI

JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY

AMER SOC PARASITOLOGISTS

Lugar: Washington, Estados Unidos; Año: 2024

0022-3395

Hedruris is distributed worldwide parasitizing lampreys, fishes, frogs, and lizards. In South America 5 species on frogs (Hedruris heyeri, Hedruris juninensis, Hedruris moniezi, Hedruris mucronifer), three on fishes (Hedruris basilichtensis, Hedruris orestiae and Hedruris suttonae), and one in turtles (Hedruris dratini) were reported. We searched for parasites in a frog (Pseudis minuta) found dead in Pescado stream. The Hedruris sp. was found and subsequently subjected to integrative analyses. The 18S rDNA was sequenced and specimens were analyzed with electron and optical microscopy. The genetic analysis clustered this nematode with H. dratini. The morphology was similar to that species, but differing in the deirid simple in turtles and bifid in frogs. That could be a result of several causes, such as host interaction with the parasite, a theratologic feature, or it could be masking a high level of morphological variability. It is necessary in addition to the morphological study, a molecular analysis of all the Hedruris spp. described. The definitive host for H. dratini could be the turtle, according to the prevalence and the intensity of infestation reported in the bibliography. Notwithstanding, the nematode could be using different hosts, or the frog was feeding on the amphipod hosting the intermediate stage. This is the first Hedruris parasite on frogs sequenced and represents, after H. mucronifer, the second report of the genus from Argentina on anurans.