Helminth fauna in amphibians of Pelophylax esculenta complex (Anura): relations in the parasite-host system
2021
Gherasim, Elena
This paper presents data of long-time helminthological research (2013 - present) conducted on amphibians of the Pelophylax esculenta complex (Pelophylax ridibundus x Pelophylax lessonae x Pelophylax esculentus) from various types of natural and anthropized aquatic habitats of the Republic of Moldova. A wide variety of organisms (metazoans, protozoa, ecto- and endoparasites etc.) in their evolutionary cycle are dependent on amphibians, so anurans serve as complementary, intermediate and definitive hosts, and their helminthic fauna is a component part of the aquatic ecosystems natural and anthropogenic. According to the helminthological investigations, it was established that the researched amphibian species are infested with 22 species of helminths, which, from a taxonomic point of view, fall into 3 classes: Trematoda class with 14 species, Secernentea Class - 6 species and Palaecanthocephala class with 2 species . The degree of helminth infestation of amphibians varies depending on the specifics of the habitats, the structure of biodiversity, but also the impact of the anthropogenic factor on the ecosystems populated by amphibians. The behavioral characteristics and morphological adaptations of the hosts and the parasites reflect their evolutionary relationships.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Technical University of Moldova