Pelophylax ridibundus (Amphibia: ranidae) as paratenic host of Spirocerca lupi species (Secernentea: spirocercidae) in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The paper presents data on the identification of the helminth fauna structure of Pelophylax ridibundus species and the determination of its role as intermediate and paratenic host for various groups of vertebrate helminths. 84 specimens of Pelophylax ridibundus (26 - males, 31 - females, 27 - juveniles) from the Dniester River, border area of Talmaza village, Ștefan Vodă district, were helminthologically investigated. As result of helminthological investigations, it was established that the structure of the helminth fauna of Pelophylax ridibundus species is characterized by 13 species of helminths (Haematoloechus variegatus Rudolphi, 1819; Codonocephalus urniger Rudolphi, 1819; Opisthioglyphe ranae Froelich, 1791; Paralepoderma brumpti Buttner, 1951; Prosotocus confusus Looss, 1894; Tylodelphys excavata Rudolphi, 1803; Diplodiscus subclavatus Pallas, 1760; Parastrigea robusta Szidat, 1928, Strigea falconis Szidat, 1928; Cosmocerca ornata Dujardin, 1845; Oswaldocruzia filiformis Goeze, 1782; Icosiella neglecta Diesing, 1851; Spirocerca lupi Rudolphi, 1809), from 13 genera, 11 families (Omphalometridae, Haematoloechidae, Plagiorchiidae, Lecithodendriidae, Diplodiscidae, Diplostomatidae, Strigeidae, Cosmocercidae, Molineidae, Onchocercidae, Spirocercidae), 6 orders (Plagiorchiida, Echinostomida, Diplostomida, Ascaridida, Strongylida, Spirurida), 2 classes (Trematoda, Secernentea) and 2 phylums (Plathelminthes, Nematoda). Of the 13 helminth species detected, a special importance is attributed to the nematode Spirocerca lupi Rudolphi, 1809, for which the taxonomic classification, synonims, hosts, organic specificity and biological cycle are described, for which the Pelophylax ridibundus species is as paratenic host. The diversity and intensity of helminth infestation of Pelophylax ridibundus has been established.