Diversidade de helmintos parasitos de uma população de Osteocephalus cabrerai (Anura: Hylidae) na Amazônia brasileira

Abstract

Amphibians are good models for studies of parasite diversity due to their wide range of life strategies, standing out as hosts for various groups of nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, monogeneans, and acanthocephalans. The structure of parasitic communities in anurans can be influenced by various biotic or abiotic factors. Despite being extensively studied, the taxa found are rarely identified to the species level. To date, no parasitological studies have been conducted on representatives of Osteocephalus cabrerai, leaving the parasitic fauna of these anurans completely unknown. This study aims to characterize the diversity of parasitic helminths of O. cabrerai from the Beija-Flor Brilho de Fogo Extractive Reserve. This thesis comprises two chapters. The first chapter consists of a published Research Article that presents the first records of parasites for O. cabrerai, analyzing the composition and characteristics of the parasitic community, patterns of parasite distribution, and the correlation between host biotic factors and the characteristics of the community. We predominantly found nematodes with a monoxenous life cycle, high prevalence, and abundant infection. Most specimens represent the first record of parasites for the genus Osteocephalus. Additionally, in our analyses, individuals with greater body mass tended to have higher susceptibility to parasitic helminth infections. The second chapter presents a Short Communication with the first molecular and phylogenetic analyses involving A. pella, concluding that the genus Aplectana is not monophyletic. We provide the first study on the helminth community structure of O. cabrerai and add the first sequence of Aplectana from the Neotropical region. Thus, we enhance the understanding of the diversity and ecology of parasitic helminths in anurans, as well as the phylogenetic relationships of species within the family Cosmocercidae.