Effects of Cymatocarpus solearis (Trematoda: Brachycoeliidae) on its second intermediate host, the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus.

ABSTRACT: Many digenean trematodes require three hosts to complete their life cycle. For Cymatocarpus solearis (Brachycoeliidae), the first intermediate host is unknown; the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus is a second intermediate host, and the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta, a lobster predator, is the definitive host. Trophically-transmitted parasites may alter the behavior or general condition of intermediate hosts in ways that increase the hosts' rates of consumption by definitive hosts. Here, we examined the effects of infection by C. solearis on P. argus by comparing several physiological and behavioral variables among uninfected lobsters (0 cysts) and lobsters with light (1-10 cysts), moderate (11-30 cysts), and heavy (>30 cysts) infections. Physiological variables were hepatosomati

SUBMITTER: Franco-Bodek T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10540948 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature