[Helminthofauna of Opisthonema liberate and Harengula thrissina (Osteichthyes: Clupeidae) from Chamela Bay, Jalisco, Mexico].
We collected helminths from the "sardines" Harengula thrissina (N = 61) and Opisthonema libertate (n = 43), from Chamela Bay, Jalisco State, Mexico (12 and six species, respectively). The nematode Pseudoterranova sp., reached the highest values of prevalence and mean abundance in O. libertate (11.6% and 0.13 worms per host, respectively), while in H. thrissina the digenean Parahemiurus merus reached a prevalence of 49.1% and a mean abundance of 1.40 worms per host. Low similarity values (qualitative and quantitative) between helminths of both host species is a result of their opportunistic feeding habits (100% of the parasitic species in H. thrissina and 66% of those from O. libertate infect their host from prey) and differential exposure to helminth larvae.
Pérez-Ponce de León
G
G
Laboratorio de Helmintología, Instituto de Biología, UNAM, Ap. Postal 70-153, C.P. 04510 México, D.F. ppdleon@servidor.unam.mx
García Prieto
L
L
Rosas Villa
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008800:Mexico; D012623:Seawater