Seasonality and prevalence of the protistan trichomycete Enterobryus halophilus (Ichthyosporea: Eccrinales) in the mole crab Emerita portoricensis

In Puerto Rico the protist Enterobryus halophilus (Ichthyosporea: Eccrinales) has been reported associated with a new host, Emerita portoricensis (Malacostraca: Hippidae). A study on prevalence and abundance in populations of E. halophilus was conducted during 18 mo to determine whether sex-dependent infection exists in Em. portoricensis, as suggested (1958) for the original description of E. halophilus in Em. talpoida. Individuals (1440) of Em. portoricensis were collected and their guts dissected on microscope slides. The thalli of E. halophilus were counted under a microscope with random grid squares. A factorial ANOVA with interaction revealed that the prevalence and the abundance of E. halophilus do not depend on the sex of its host. Furthermore the data indicate that E. halophilus populations undergo seasonal variations in infestation following the population dynamics of the host.