<i>Polystoma umthakathi</i> (Monogenea): establishment, mortality and reproduction of neotenic parasites in experimentally infected <i>Natalobatrachus bonebergi</i> tadpoles

Abstract

The development of Polystoma umthakathi oncomiracidia were studied in experimentally infected Natalobatrachus boneberg tadpoles to establish a normal reference of parasite performance in the natural host. The anteroventral body wall is transparent in these tadpoles and it was possible to follow the destiny of each parasite throughout its life span of neotenic development. Success of establishment was 27,9% and mean parasite intensity 2,1 at 48 h. After parasite larvae initially attached to the gills on the left side, they gradually migrated to the right side and mature parasites only occurred inside the right branchial chamber. Parasite mortality was high, prevalence had declined to 72,4% after 12 days and 48,3% after 20 days while mean parasite intensity had declined to 1,8 and 1,6 during the same period. Egg production was around 13 to 15 eggs/parasite/day for parasites in burdens of one and two but significantly lower (5,24) in the case of three-parasite burdens. Tadpoles harbouring two or more parasites became anaemic but recovered when most or all parasites were lost.