Helminths from Dormitator maculatus (Pisces: Eleotridae) in Alvarado Lagoon, Veracruz, Mexico, and Supplemental Data for Clinostomum complanatum Rudolphi, 1814 from Egretta caerulea (Aves: Ardeidae)

Abstract

Fishes are important hosts of helminths with aquatic life stages, yet little information is available on host-parasite relationships in tropical low salinity ecosystems. In this paper we report helminth parasites of the fat sleeper, Dormitator maculatus, in the Alvarado lagoon system, Veracruz. Mexico. Four parasite species were recorded from D. maculatus, including trematode metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum, as well as nematode larvae of Spyroxis sp. and Camallanus sp. and adults of Neochinorhynchus golvani. In addition, we obtained adult C. complanatum from the esophagus of the little blue heron, Egretta caerulea. Dormitator maculatus is a new host for all helminth species reported, and the Alvarado lagoonal system is a new location for these parasite relationships. The prevelance of the 2 most commonly occurring parasites, C. complanatum and N. golvani, was high throughout the year (> 60% and > 43%, respectively). Intensity of infection was highest for C. complanatum in May (92 worms/host) and for N. golvani in October 1993 (33.8 worms/host). The trophic position and habits of D. maculatus contributes to recruitment of trematode and nematode larval stages.