title: Host specificity and the structure of helminth parasite communities of fishes in a Neotropical river in Mexico.
abstract: In a tropical locality of Río La Antigua, Veracruz, Mexico, 11 fish species, represented by 244 individual fish from six freshwater fish families living sympatrically and synchronically, were examined for helminth parasites. A total of 36 taxa of helminths were recorded, 24 autogenic and 12 allogenic forms, including 6 monogeneans, 14 trematodes, 1 cestode, and 15 nematodes. Most helminth taxa were recovered for 10/11 of the component communities we analyzed. The results contribute empirical evidence that host specificity is an important force in the development of helminth communities of freshwater fishes. Each fish family has their own set of parasites, host species belonging to the same taxon share parasite species. High component community similarity among related host species was recorded, demonstrated by high prevalence and abundance, as well as dominance, of autogenic specialist species in each component community. Most autogenic helminth species are numerically and reproductively successful in relatively few host species. Autogenic helminths common in one host species are not common in others. Our findings give empirical support to the idea that low levels of sharing of parasites favor animal coexistence and high species richness, because large phylogenetic differences allow potentially competing animals to consume the same resources without being sensitive of another's parasites.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Zoología, Laboratorio de Helmintología, Apartado Postal 70-153, C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salgado-Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Zoología, Laboratorio de Helmintología, Apartado Postal 70-153, C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Novelo-Turcotte
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Laboratorio de Parasitología de Animales Silvestres, Avenida Universidad Número 1001, Colonia Chamilpa, C.P. 62209, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Caspeta-Mandujano
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Hurtado
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Zoología, Laboratorio de Helmintología, Apartado Postal 70-153, C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Quiroz-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación, Avenida Universidad Número 1001, Colonia Chamilpa, C.P. 62209, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mercado-Silva
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favila
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005399:Fishes; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification*; D058507:Host Specificity; D007814:Larva / Q000145:classification; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D045483:Rivers; D014329:Tropical Climate