Inventory of helminth parasites in Caatinga anurans from Northeastern Brazil.

Abstract

Biological inventories are essential tools for understanding parasite diversity. In this study, we describe the helminth parasite communities associated with anuran amphibians from five localities within the Caatinga domain of Northeastern Brazil. A total of 1,198 individuals, belonging to 22 species and six anuran families (Bufonidae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, Microhylidae, Odontoprhynidae, and Phyllomedusidae), were examined. Of these, 629 specimens (52.5%) were parasitized, and 27,004 helminths were recovered. The helminths represented 34 taxa, including 24 Nematoda, 7 Digenea, 1 Cestoda, and 2 Acanthocephala. We present parasitological descriptors such as prevalence, abundance range, infection site, and life stage. Additionally, we report 18 new host-parasite records and provide updated data on geographical occurrence. Our findings emphasize the importance of regional surveys in expanding knowledge on host-parasite interactions and in highlighting hidden components of biodiversity within the Caatinga biome.