Spatio-temporal variation in the prevalence of trematodes in the bivalve Perumytilus purpuratus

Abstract

Perumytilus purpuratus is an abundant bivalve located in the intertidal rocky zone of South America that has been considered as a key species of the ecosystem. There are few studies of the host-parasite relationship of this bivalve; thus, this research aims to analyse the spatial and temporal variation in the prevalence of trematodes in P. purpuratus. Bivalves were collected from three localities (El Tabo, Las Cruces and Montemar) of central Chile (33°S, 71°W) during different seasons of 2010. The bivalves were also collected every metre, from the lowest to the highest level of the intertidal rocky zone, to determine the parasite distribution within the localities. Three species of trematodes as sporocyst stages were found: Prosorhynchoides carvajali, Proctoeces sp. and an undetermined fellodistomid species. Of the 37,692 bivalve specimens collected, 2.68% were parasitised. The undetermined fellodistomid species was the most prevalent parasite observed (1.69%). There were little detected differences in the prevalence of some trematode species between seasons. The prevalence of P. carvajali varied between localities, being most prevalent at Montemar. The distribution of trematodes along the rocky zone within the localities was variable, with P. carvajali being more prevalent in the mid-lowest level of the intertidal zone and the undetermined fellodistomid species being more prevalent in the mid-highest level. Both the abundance of definitive hosts and the environmental conditions likely result in different levels of infection by trematodes in P. purpuratus between and within the localities.

Seasonal pattern in parasite infracommunities of Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus and Hoplias malabaricus (Actinopterygii: Erythrinidae) from the Brazilian Amazon

“…Studies focusing on directly transmission of parasites have also reported a relationship between host abundance and the abundance of digeneans, both influenced by the dry/rainy season cycle (Violante-González et al 2008;Muñoz et al, 2013). Moreover, environmental variations (Violante-González et al 2008;Muñoz et al, 2013), vegetation cover and seasonal variations relating to the dietary behavior of H. malabaricus and H. unitaeniatus may also influence the seasonal infection patterns of metacercariae. These two host fish are piscivorous when adults, while the juvenile fish feeds on plankton, crustaceans, insects and seeds (Santos et al 2006;Soares et al 2011;Alcântara and Tavares-Dias 2015) and mollusks.…”

“…This knowledge provides information on different parasite species functions within a community, and also whether these parasitism levels are constant or whether variations are influenced by intermediate host availability. Such variations can alter the recruitment process of parasite species in the environment (Valtonen et 1990;Kadlec et al 2003;Violante-González et al 2008;Neves et al 2013;Soylu 2013;Muñoz et al, 2013;Tavares-Dias et al 2014). Therefore, the effects of seasonality on the parasite infracommunities in wild H. unitaeniatus and H. malabaricus populations in the Amazon region need to be addressed.…”

Consumo de oxígeno en Perumytilus purpuratus según el parasitismo por Digenea, y efectos de la temperatura y del ciclo de emersión-inmersión sobre la liberación de cercarias

“…En condiciones cotidianas, éstas se darían a menores latitudes, en verano, y en sitios más altos del intermareal. Al respecto, se ha registrado que esta parasitosis alcanza mayores prevalencias en el nivel medio-alto del intermareal en Chile central (Muñoz et al 2013b). (48, 24, 12, 6, 4, 2 tiempo (1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 y 48 h) / Average shedding of cercariae in 14 specimens of P. purpuratus subjected to 2 experiments with opposite cycles of immersion-emersion.…”

“…Odhner, 1911 (Fellodistomidae), y otro digeneo fellodistómido no identificado (Muñoz et al 2013a), y al que diversos autores han denominado Proctoeces lintoni Siddiqi & Cable 1960 (Aldana et al 2009, Oliva et al 2010, aunque aún no ha sido posible determinar taxonómicamente su identidad en forma definitiva (Muñoz et al 2013a, b). Este último taxón es el de mayor prevalencia en P. purpuratus en la costa centro sur de Chile, alcanzando valores menores al 2% (Muñoz et al 2013b), y es el parásito sujeto de este estudio.…”

Trematode maturation patterns in a migratory snail host: What happens during upshore residency in a Mediterranean lagoon?

“…Transmission pathways and factors affecting cercarial dispersion and release have been extensively studied (Curtis 1987;Bao-Zhen et al 1997;McCurdy et al 2000;Miura and Chiba 2007;Thieltges 2007;Fermer et al 2010;BornTorrijos et al 2014a; see Pietrock andMarcogliese 2003 andThieltges et al 2008 for reviews), as well as seasonal and spatial heterogeneity of cercariae (Lang and Dennis 1976;Hughes and Answer 1982;Muñoz et al 2013). However, while detailed descriptions of the parthenogenetic generations inside rediae or sporocysts are available (e.g.…”