HIGH ECTOPARASITIC LEECH LOAD IN THE MOUNTAIN TREE FROG Hyla eximia (Hylidae) CAUSED BY ANTHROPIZATION

Abstract

IIn June 2021, parasitism by leeches of the genus Helobdella was observed for the first time in Hyla eximia during an irrigation canal monitoring. This event occurred shortly after the canals were opened to supply an agroecosystem in The Cerrillo, Piedras Blancas, Toluca de Lerdo, State of Mexico, Mexico. The frog was trapped in one of the canal beds, which had an abundant presence of duckweed (Lemna minor). We analyzed the load and distribution of the parasitic leeches on the frog’s body. An obvious difficulty in individual locomotion was observed. The observed parasite load of 65 leeches is one of the highest ever recorded in anurans. Our findings highlight the importance of parasitic load in the host fitness and suggest a potential relationship between anthropization and the magnitude of these interactions.