Metacercariae of Strigeidae Parasitizing Amphibians of the Chaco Region in Argentina

An Acad Bras Cienc. 2019;91(1):e20180044. doi: 10.1590/0001-3765201920180044. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to analyze the metacercariae found in adult amphibians collected in the Argentinean Chaco region. A total of 194 frogs, Leptodactylus chaquensis, Leptodactylus latinasus, and Lepidobatrachus laevis was examined for digeneans. Three different larval trematodes of the genus Strigea (Digenea, Strigeidae) were found infecting the liver, mesentery, body cavity, and muscle of frogs. These metacercariae are described and illustrated for the first time and provide new information on the composition of metacercariae in amphibians, thus contributing to the knowledge of larval trematodes biodiversity in the Neotropical region. We also present new information on the morphology and morphometry of strigeid metacercariae.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anura / parasitology*
  • Argentina
  • Metacercariae / anatomy & histology*
  • Species Specificity
  • Trematoda / anatomy & histology*