Diversity of parasites from Xenopus laevis (Amphibia: Pipidae) and their seasonal rate of infection in selected habitats in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

This study determined the diversity and seasonality of parasites species of the African clawed frog, ( ), from three localities, namely Modjadjikloof, Mokopane and University of Limpopo, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A total of seven parasite species were collected and identified. They included tw...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHelminthologia Vol. 57; no. 3; pp. 252 - 267
Main Authors Mbokane, E. M., Theron, J., Luus-Powel, W. J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Heidelberg Sciendo 01.09.2020
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Subjects
Amphibians
Heteroxenous
Infections
Life cycles
Monoxenous
Nematodes
Parasites
Platinum
Protozoa
Rare species
Season
Seasonal variations
Seasonality
Species diversity
Species richness
Temperature
Trichodina
Variability
Xenopus laevis
South Africa
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Summary:This study determined the diversity and seasonality of parasites species of the African clawed frog, ( ), from three localities, namely Modjadjikloof, Mokopane and University of Limpopo, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A total of seven parasite species were collected and identified. They included two nematodes, and ( ), a monogenean, ( ), a cestode, ( ), a protozoan, , two digeneans, Ortlepp, 1926 and . The most common and abundant parasite species by far were . , . and . , with . , . present in all localities. was a rare species, only present in host populations from Modjadjiskloof. Modjadjiskloof had the highest species richness (all seven parasite species) followed by Mokopane (five parasite species) and University of Limpopo (3 parasite species). There were also higher infection levels (prevalence and mean intensity) of . , . , . and . in hosts from Modjadjiskloof while . and . infection levels were greater in Mokopane. The variability between localities shows that parasites with heteroxenous life cycles are more strongly associated with more pristine habitats. The variability in calculated indices (prevalence and mean intensity) also suggests that the occurrence of some of the parasites is affected by season, favouring higher infection rates during summer. This suggests that temperature has a direct role in the reproductive and developmental processes of these parasites. Neither length nor sex had an influence on the prevalence or intensity of parasites.
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ISSN:0440-6605
1336-9083
DOI:10.2478/helm-2020-0027