First study of the helminth community structure of Marmosa constantiae (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) in an ecotone area between Cerrado and Amazonia, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. 

Abstract

Marmosa constantiae is a species of marsupial, restricted to the central portion of South America. In Brazil, it is restricted to the states of Acre, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Paraná and Rondônia. However, there is no study of the helminth fauna or helminth community structure for this marsupial. The aims of this study were to describe the species composition and to analyse the structure of the helminthic community of M. constantiae at the infracommunity level in an area of the Amazon Arc in Sinop, north of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Parasites were searched in 53 specimens of this marsupial, among which 44 were infected with at least one helminth species. Parasitic helminths were counted and identified. Nine species were collected: seven nematodes, one cestode and one acanthocephalan. The most abundant species were Gracilioxyuris agilisis, Travassostrongylus scheibelorum, Pterygodermatites sinopiensis and Subulura eliseae. These species were the only dominants in the component community. No significant differences were observed in the abundance and prevalence of helminths between male and female hosts. Host body size significantly influenced the helminth abundance in males. The pattern of community structure considering the infracommunities in this locality indicated more species replacement than species loss along the environmental gradient. This is the first study to analyse the helminth fauna and the helminth community structure of M. constantiae.