OCURRENCE OF Bucephalus sp. (TREMATODA: BUCEPHALIDAE) IN Anomalocardia brasiliana (GMELIN, 1791) (MOLLUSCA: VENERIIDAE) AT CANTO DA BARRA BEACH, FORTIM, CEARÁ STATE, BRAZIL

Authors

  • Maria Lúcia Rodrigues Araújo Bolsista FUNCAP, Mestrado em Ciências Marinhas Tropicais do Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza - CE, 60165-081
  • Cristina de Almeida Rocha Bareira Professora Adjunta do Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza - CE, 60165-081

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32360/acmar.v37i1-2.6444

Keywords:

parasitism, Bucephalus, Anamalocardia brasiliana

Abstract

This present paper reports the ocurrence of trematods preyng upon the venerid bivalve Anomalocardia brasiliana, na inhabitant of Sandy and muddy bottoms of Jaguaribe River estuary, Canto da Barra Beach, Fortim, Ceará State, Brazil. Among 469 individuals, 6% os them were shown to be preyed upon. Sporocysts and cercariae of Bucephalus so were located mainly on the gonads of A. brasiliana, where they caused disruption os the ovarian folicular walls and testicular ducts and destroued the germ cells. In some cases the parasite activities prevent sexual differentiation. The ocorrence of those parasites may be related to environmental parameters, such as temperature, salinity and food availability, as well as to human impacto n estuarine environment. Although the prevalence of Bucephalus sp. was low in the A.brasiliana population from canto da Barra Beach, its increase could seriosly affect the population structure of this clam in the region.

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Published

2017-03-10

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Section

Artigos originais