First report of Lernaea cyprinacea (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) in early stages of natural populations of invasive exotic bullfrogs Lithobates catesbeianus (Anura: Ranidae) from Argentina

SALINAS, ZULMA A.; BIOLÉ, FERNANDA G.; GRENAT, PABLO R.; POLLO, FAVIO, E.; SALAS, NANCY E.; MARTINO, ADOLFO L.

PHYLLOMEDUSA

Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas - ESALQ - USP

Lugar: San Pablo; Año: 2016 vol. 15 p. 43 - 50

1519-1397

Lernaeacyprinacea is an ectoparasitic copepod that can produce mortality, causinghemorrhages, ulcerations, and secondary infections. The distribution of L.cyprinacea in Argentina is widespread. Previous findings are restricted almostexclusively to cases of parasitism in fishes. Parasitism by copepods on anurantadpoles is rarely documented. We report the first record of Lernaeacyprinacaea on larvae of the exotic and invasive species Lithobatescatesbeianus in Argentina, and describe the parasitic infestation. We collecteda total of 15 tadpoles and 21 recently-metamorphosed individuals of L.catesbeianus from the mountain town of Río de los Sauces and 12 tadpoles fromthe Toledo stream, Cordoba Province, Argentina. A maximum of 2 Lernaeacyprinacaea parasites per hosts was found principally in the cloaca. Weobserved clinical symptoms of inflammation hemorrhage and ulcers in the skinwith mucus formation in the attachment area of parasites.