Volume 48/Number 3/Abstract 10
Acta Parasitologica Homepage
Tables of Contents
Volume 48 Tables of Contents

Acta Parasitologica, Vol.48, No. 3, 2003, 218-221
Cristina de Villalobos* and Marcela Ronderos - Dasyhelea necrophila Spinelli et Rodriguez, 1999 (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) a new potential paratenic host of Paragordius varius (Leidy, 1851) (Gordiida, Nematomorpha)

Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Paseo del Bosque S/N, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
*Corresponding author: villalo@museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar
ABSTRACT

Nematomorph larvae are known to enter aquatic insect larvae where they can encyst or present a limited development. These paratenic hosts serve only as vehicles to reach the definitive hosts and then complete their life cycle. In this work, through experimental infections it was proved that Dasyhelea necrophila (Ceratopogonidae) larvae can be considered as potential paratenic hosts of Paragordius varius (Nematomorpha) larvae. Although the D. necrophila larvae were infected by ingestion, in one pupa where the parasitic larva entered the respiratory horn it is possible that the penetration could have been performed through one of the spiracles of the respiratory horn. The parasitic larvae did not form cysts covered by a gelatinous substance but presented different levels of melanization.


KEY WORDS: Gordiida, Paragordius varius, Ceratopogonidae, Dasyhelea necrophila, paratenic host

Page compiled by M. Bultowicz. Last modification: 04-11-2003