Patterns in parasite diversity and interactions with anurans from the Atlantic Forest

• Published in: Parasitology international 2024-10, Vol.102, p.102914, Article 102914
• Main Authors: Euclydes, Rafael, Campião, Karla Magalhães
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acanthocephala - classification; Acanthocephala - isolation & purification; Acanthocephala - physiology; Animals; Anura - parasitology; Anurans; Biodiversity; Brazil - epidemiology; Community ecology; Forests; Helminths - classification; Helminths - genetics; Helminths - isolation & purification; Host Specificity; Host-Parasite Interactions; Nematoda - classification; Parasite specificity; Phylogeny; Prevalence
• ISSN: 1383-5769; 1873-0329; 1873-0329
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102914

Knowledge of parasite-host interactions is essential for understanding factors associated with the ecology and evolution of both groups. Some aspects, such as host size and phylogeny, as well as parasite specificity, are significant predictors that help unveil the parasite-host relationship. Thus, the goals of this study were: (1) to describe parasite diversity in regions of the Atlantic Forest; (2) to analyze which host characteristics can influence parasite richness of anuran's parasite component community; and (3) to investigate if the prevalence of parasite infection is related to specificity metrics (ecological and phylogenetic), number of infected hosts and parasite's abundance. We identified 49 parasite taxa, classified into three phyla: Nematoda, Acanthocephala, and Platyhelminthes. Supporting the existing literature, our findings corroborate the positive relationship between host size and parasite richness, further emphasizing the significance of this predictor. Parasite prevalence in the host community is related to the number of infected host species and parasite abundance, but not to phylogenetic and ecological specificity indices. This shows that parasite prevalence is strongly associated with infection opportunity, host sampling effort, and high parasite abundance. [Display omitted] •A total of 49 parasite taxa were identified in 33 anuran species in the Atlantic Forest.•Parasite species found in different host species are the most prevalent.•Parasite prevalence is positively related to abundance.•Parasites with a direct transmission mode are more prevalent than those with a trophic transmission mode.