title: Helminth parasites of Chapalichthys encaustus (Pisces: Goodeidae), an endemic freshwater fish from Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico.
abstract: A total of 6 helminth species were recorded during helminthological examination of 50 Chapalichthys encaustus from Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. Helminth species identified included: Salsuginus sp. (an undescribed monogenea); Posthodiplostomum minimum (metacercariae); Cyclustera ralli (metacestode); Polymorphus brevis (cystacanth); Contracaecum sp. (nematode larvae); and Rhabdochona lichtenfelsi (adult nematode). Of these, 2 (Salsuginus sp. and R. lichtenfelsi) are specialist species. The observed species richness, individual parasite abundance, and diversity were low. Data suggest that host specificity is an important factor contributing to observed community composition and richness. Host feeding habits and helminth species availability seem to determine the characteristics of these helminth assemblages.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-153, CP 04510 México, DF, México.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Aquino
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salgado-Maldonado
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Aguilar
authors.forename: Guillermina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cabañas-Carranza
authors.forename: Mirza P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ortega-Olivares
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005618:Fresh Water; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology