Cestodes from Artemia parthenogenetica [Crustacea, Branchiopoda] in the Odiel Marshes, Spain: A systematic survey of cysticercoids

A total of 3,300 specimens of brine shrimps Artemia parthenogenetica from the Odiel Marshes, Huelva Province, SW Spain, were studied during several seasons of 2002 and 2003 for the presence of cestode infections. Cysticercoids were found in 26.8% of brine shrimps. Eight cestode species were recorded, i.e., Hymenolepididae: Flamingolepis liguloides (adults parasitic in flamingos) with prevalence (P) 18.5%, mean intensity (MI) 1.48 and mean abundance (MA) 0.28; F. flamingo (adults parasitic in flamingos), P 0.9%, MI 1.03, MA 0.01; Confluaria podicipina (adults parasitic in grebes), P 6.5%, MI 1.42, MA 0.09; Wardium stellorae (adults parasitic in gulls), P 0.2%, MI 1.00, MA 0.002; Dilepididae: Eurycestus avoceti (adults parasitic in waders and flamingos), P 2.7%, MI 1.08, MA 0.03; Anomotaenia sp., probably A microphallos (adults parasitic in waders), P 0.8%, MI 1.04, MA 0.01; A tringae (adults parasitic in waders), P 2.2%, MI 1.01, MA 0.02; Progynotaeniidae: Gynandrotaenia stammen (adults parasitic in flamingos), P 0.6%, MI 1.00, MA 0.01. The cysticercoids are described and accompanying illustrations are presented. This study provides the first record of Anomotaenia tringae in an intermediate host and the first records of C. podicipina, E. avoceti, A. tringae and G. stammeri in Spain.