Abstract
A região Neotropical tem grande diversidade de caranguejos. No entanto, a diversidade de parasitos infestando esses crustáceos ainda é pobremente conhecida. No presente estudo foram registradas três novas ocorrências de Leidya distorta em Ucides cordatus no Sudeste do Brasil e no Nordeste da Venezuela. Os caranguejos foram coletados em manguezais da Venezuela (Cumaná) e do Brasil (Cananéia e São Vicente). Um total de 281 caranguejos foi capturado nessas localidades, sendo os indivíduos dissecados no laboratório para verificar a presença de L. distorta. Apenas três caranguejos estavam infestados com o bopirídeo Leidya distorta. A prevalência nos caranguejos foi muito baixa (1,1%) e diferiu de acordo com a localidade, sendo levemente alta em Cananéia (2,6%) e São Vicente (2,2%), quando comparada com Cumaná (0,5%). Este estudo apresenta novas ocorrências de Leidya distorta infestando o caranguejo-uçá Ucides cordatus na América do Sul, bem como uma revisão dos braquiúros que servem de hospedeiro para Leidya distorta.
Highlights
Isopods associated with crustacean hosts show a broad distribution around the world (SMIT et al, 2014)
Bopyridae is represented by 369 genres and 638 species described (WILLIAMS and BOYKO, 2012), being approximately 586 species of this family associated with decapods (BOYKO and WILLIAMS, 2009)
We recorded for the first time the infestation of the mangrove crab U. cordatus by L. distorta in Venezuela, and it represents the second report in Brazil
Summary
Isopods associated with crustacean hosts show a broad distribution around the world (SMIT et al, 2014). Bopyridae is represented by 369 genres and 638 species described (WILLIAMS and BOYKO, 2012), being approximately 586 species of this family associated with decapods (BOYKO and WILLIAMS, 2009). Bopyrid isopods are macroparasites with an indirect life cycle that involves two hosts, both crustaceans (LESTER, 2005). According to LESTER (2005), the cryptoniscus that is a free-swimming larvae that seek out a definitive host settles between the gill lamellae and after moulting a few times, migrates to the roof of the branchial chamber and later mature into a female in a decapod host
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