Parasites and Epibionts of Grapsid Crabs in Bahía Blanca Estuary, Argentina

Epibionts and parasites were recovered from the grapsid crabs Cyrtograpsus angulatus and Neohelice granulata in the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina. Among epibionts, we identified a filamentous bacterium, the protozoan Epistylis sp., and the copepod Neocancrincola platensis on the gills; and the barnacles Balanus amphitrite and Balanus glandula as well as the bryozoan Conopeum reticulum on the caparace. Among endoparasites, we identified the acanthocephalan Profilicollis chasmagnathi in the hindgut, nematodes of the subfamily Acuariinae and Ascarophis sp. in the haemocoel, and an encysted cyclophyllidean cestode in the gut wall. Among microphallid digeneans, we found four metacercariae: Maritrema bonaerensis in the gills, muscle, haemocoel, and gonads, Maritrema orensensis in the gills, Levinseniella cruzi in the gonads, and Odhneria sp. in the muscle. Except for P. chasmagnathi, N. platensis, and M. bonaerensis, all other epibionts and digeneans represent new host records. This paper also presents novel information regarding the possible sites of infection for M. bonaerensis. Our results add relevant data about possible life cycles of helminths in the study area.