Based on published records and new data accumulated by the authors, we generated a list of the helminth parasites of marine mammals from off the coast of Argentina. We found 49 reports of helminths parasitizing cetaceans and pinnipeds from Argentina from 1952 to 2015. The list includes 54 taxa of helminths (8 acanthocephalans, 24 nematodes, 11 cestodes and 11 trematodes) associated with 18 spec...

Acanthocephalans are a small group of obligate endoparasites. They and rotifers are recently placed in a group called Syndermata. However, phylogenetic relationships within classes of acanthocephalans, and between them and rotifers, have not been well resolved, possibly due to the lack of molecular data suitable for such analysis. In this study, the mitochondrial (mt) genome was sequenced from ...

Commonly known as spiny-headed worms, acanthocephalans have a characteristic eversible proboscis, which bears rows of recurved spines used for attachment to the intestine of their host. Acanthocephalans are endoparasitic and an extremely successful group found in almost all marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems, infecting a huge range of definitive (usually vertebrate) and intermediate (us...

A survey of 17 fishes belonging to 11 species from Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies, led to the recovery of 2 species of acanthocephalans and 9 of digeneans. The acanthocephalans found were Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) acanthuri and Dollfusentis ctenorhynchus. The digeneans included Monorchimacradena acanthuri in Acanthurus bahianus (new host record), Bucephalus varicus, Hurleytrematoi...

Although there are common and well-established bioindicator organisms tissues, is still a need for reliable sensitive bioindicators in aquatic environments. In the present pilot study, calcified structures fish were applied as indicators of metal exposure combination with commonly used soft tissues intestinal parasites, therefore comprising short- long-term indicators. Patterns accumulation dis...

In free-living animals sexual selection is a central force shaping the spatial distribution of individuals in a population as well as sexual size dimorphism. We studied the influence of sexual selection on spatial distribution, female-to-male body size ratio, and female mating success of acanthocephalans in a natural host population of Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis) harbouring a s...

Acanthocephalans constitute a relatively small phylum of dioecious helminths that infect invertebrate intermediate and vertebrate paratenic definitive hosts. Like most parasites, acanthocephalans are usually overlooked in biodiversity studies, although they can have significant impacts on their host’s health the structure surrounding communities. In this study, we present morphological molecula...

New records for helminth species recovered from elasmobranch fishes in Brazil are established. Digenean and acanthocephalan parasites of elasmobranch fishes are reported from the southern coast of Brazil: Otodistomum veliporum (Creplin, 1837) Stafford, 1904 (Digenea: Azygiidae) in the stomach and spiral valve of Dipturus trachydermus and in the spiral valve of Squatina sp. Cystacanths and juven...

During a survey of the helminth parasites of the introduced toad, Bufo marinus, on O'ahu, Hawaii, an acanthocephalan corresponding to Acanthocephalus bufonis (Shipley, 1903) was found in the intestinal tract. This is a new host and locality record for A. bufonis which has only previously been recorded from amphibians in the Orient. Possible mechanisms for the introduction of A. bufonis to Hawai...

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the parasite fauna of four species of ornamental fish collected in the Chumucuí River, municipality of Bragança, Pará, Brazil. From June 2006 to December 2007. Fishes (n=307) belonging to four species were collected, including 23 specimens of Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae (redeye tetra), 37 Carnegiella strigata (marbled hatchetfish), 7 Chilodus ...