Parasitic helminths of alien invasive anurans in Butuan City, Northeastern Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

Summary This study aimed to identify the helminth parasites of invasive anuran species in selected barangays in Butuan City, Philippines. In urbanized areas, invasive species dominate anuran diversity, and one of the primary threats they pose to native wildlife is the transmission of diseases and parasites. Out of the 91 collected individuals of invasive anuran species, Rhinella marina was the most abundant (88 %), followed by Hoplobatrachus rugulosus (12 %) and Kaloula pulchra (3 %). The study identified five species of parasites, with Spirometra sp. being the most prevalent (17.58 %), followed by Echinostoma sp. (16.5 %), Rhabdias bufonis (14.3 %), Cosmocerca sp. (6.6 %), and Strongyloides stercoralis (3.30 %), respectively. Spirometra sp. also had the highest intensity (7.67), followed by Cosmocerca sp. (5), Strongyloides stercoralis (3.33), Rhabdias bufonis (3.30), and Echinostoma sp. (2.73). This parasitological survey revealed that H. rugulosus had the highest prevalence and infection of parasites, and residential areas had the highest parasite prevalence among the habitat types. Adult hosts were found to harbor a higher prevalence and intensity, and male hosts had a higher prevalence. The results highlight the high risk of parasite transmission from anurans to other animals and emphasize the need for the community to control the population of invasive anuran species for the safety of native anurans and to prevent zoonotic transmission to other animals and humans.