Helminths associated with three Hypsiboas species (Anura; Hylidae) from Ipaussú municipality, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The helminths communities associated with amphibians are generally characterized by low species richness, however new studies have shown that there is few information about this hidden diversity associated with this group, especially in the Neotropic region where there is high organisms diversity. Factors like host-parasite specificity, and characteristics of both habitat and host local communities can affect the composition and structure of helminths communities. Furthermore, the helminth fauna associated with different host species has been studied as indicator of environmental quality. Using ecological descriptors of parasitism (prevalence, mean intensity of infection and mean abundance) this project aims to characterize the composition and structure of the helminths parasites associated with three amphibians species (Hypsiboas faber, Hypsiboas albopunctatus and Hypsiboas prasinus) in a region of Semideciduous Forest in the municipality of Ipaussu, Southwest region of São Paulo State. (AU)