Juveniles Spirurida (Nematodo) parasitizing two crabs species Uca uruguayensis and Chasmagnatus granulata, from Southwest Atlantic coast

CREMONTE F., ETCHEGOIN J.A., DIAZ J.I. Y G.T. NAVONE.

Comparative Parasitology

Allen Press

Lugar: Lawrence, Kansas; Año: 2007 vol. 74 p. 88 - 95

1525 2647

ABSTRACT: As a result of the parasitological examination of crabs, Uca uruguayensis (Ocypodidae) and Chasmagnathus granulatus (Varunidae), third-stage larval nematodes belonging to the family Acuaridae and to the genus Ascarophis were found in the crabs’ haemocoel, both free and embedded in host tissues. Larval nematodes are described and illustrated in the present paper. The presence of these larval nematodes in both crab species may be influenced by the similarity in the crabs’ habitat and feeding behaviour. Both species of burrowing crabs inhabit the upper intertidal zones, feeding on sediments and, in consequence, they have similar chances to coming into contact with eggs and infective larval nematodes deposited in the faeces of birds and fish definitive hosts. Since the life cycle including the larval nematodes from U. uruguayensis and C. granulatus remain unknown and the adult stage undescribed, they cannot be assigned to a given genus or species. The validity of a previous record of Skrjabinoclava sp. in U. uruguayensis from Bahía Samborombón, is also discussed. Key Words: Nematoda, Acuariidae and Cystidocolidae larvae (L3), Uca uruguayensis, Chasmagnatus granulatus, Southwest Atlantic coast, Argentina.