First Report of Nematode Parasites in Introduced American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in Argentina

GONZÁLEZ, CE; QUIROGA L.; SANABRIA E.

COMPARATIVE PARASITOLOGY

HELMINTHOLOGICAL SOC WASHINGTON, C/O ALLEN PRESS INC

Lugar: Kansas; Año: 2014 vol. 81 p. 284 - 287

1525-2647

We provide the first report of nematode parasites from the introduced American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in San Juan Province, Argentina. A total of 16 individuals (7 adult females, 6 adult males, and 3 juveniles) of L. catesbeianus was studied. Thirteen (81.3%) of the frogs harbored two species of nematodes: larval stage Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda, Anisakidae) in their serosal surface of the stomach wall and at the gastroduodenal junction, and adult stage of Falcaustra sanjuanensis (Nematoda, Kathlaniidae) in their large intestine. Previous studies of introduced populations of American Bullfrogs in Argentina have focused on population structure, trophic ecology, and their impacts on native amphibian and other vertebrate populations; however, more studies of their parasites need to be conducted in South America generally, and Argentina specifically, before we can assess the extent to which bullfrogs introduce new parasites or are infected by native parasites and the potential impacts of non-native parasites on native frog species.