Parasites of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis , in southern California, U.S.A

Abstract

A total of 230 feral African clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis , from 3 localities in southern California were examined for parasites. The following species were found: 3 species of Protozoa, Nyctotherus sp., Balantidium xenopodis , Protoopalina xenopodus ; 2 species of Monogenea, Protopolystoma xenopodis , Gyrdicotylus gallieni ; 1 species of Digenea, Clinostomum sp. (as metacercariae); 1 species of Cestoda, Cephalochlamys namaquensis ; 2 species of Nematoda, Contracaecum sp. (as larvae), Eustrongylides sp. (as larvae); and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus sp. (as cystacanth). Of these, the protozoans P. xenopodus and B. xenopodis , both monogeneans, and the cestode have an African origin. Contracaecum sp., Eustrongylides sp., and Acanthocephalus sp. have not been previously reported from X. laevis .