Effect of parasitism of Lernaea cyprinacea on tadpoles of the invasive species Lithobates catesbeianus

SALINAS ZULMA; BABINI MS; PABLO R. GRENAT; FERNANDA G. BIOLÉ; ADOLFO L. MARTINO; NANCY E. SALAS

Heliyon

Elsevier BV

Año: 2019 vol. 5

2405-8440

The introduction of invasive species is one of the greatest threats currently faced by natural ecosystems, causingecological imbalances between native populations and transmission of a variety of diseases. We reported theinteraction between two exotic species given by the parasitic infestation of the copepodLernaea cyprinaceain theearly stages of the development of the American bullfrogLithobates catesbeianusin the central area of Argentina. Inthis paper we analysed the leukocyte profile of parasitized and non-parasitized tadpoles ofL. catesbeianuswithL. cyprinaceaand their body condition (BC) as biomarkers of the health status of organisms. A total of 27 tadpolesofL. catesbeianuswere analysed (12 non-parasitized and 15 parasitized). The lower BC recorded in parasitizedorganisms show a lower health status in these tadpoles, which could be affecting the metamorphosis and thereforeimpact at the population level. Leukocyte response ofL. catesbeianustadpoles to the parasitism ofL. cyprinaceawasfound. Mature and immature lymphocyte frequencies and hematocrit were higher in parasitized compared to non-parasitized tadpoles, which is a typical response to the presence of parasites. However, eosinophils and monocyteswere recorded at high frequencies in not parasitized tadpoles, which could be due to the important role played bythese leucocytes in the metamorphosis of frogs. The results of this study constitute afirst antecedent on leukocyteprofile in aquatic stages of anurans during an ectoparasitosis and its possible implications for environmentalhealth. The parasitism ofL. cyprinaceainfluences the biology of the American bullfrog at both the individual andpopulation levels. Parasitized individuals are not killed directly by the parasite, but they can create conditions forsecondary infections, growth retardation, behavioral changes and, ultimately, reduce populations.