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Updated: Jun 7, 2026
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Helminth Collection and Identification from Wildlife
Published on: December 14, 2013
Using parasitic trematode larvae to quantify an elusive vertebrate host
James E Byers1, Irit Altman, Andrew M Grosse
1Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A. jebyers@uga.edu
Summary
Parasite abundance, specifically external trematode cysts, can accurately predict diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) populations. This method aids in monitoring difficult-to-sample species like the near threatened terrapin.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Parasitology
- Wildlife population dynamics
Background:
- Digenean trematodes utilize multiple hosts, with parasite abundance often mirroring host abundance.
- Estimating parasite abundance in easily sampled hosts can infer populations of less accessible hosts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if trematode parasite abundance (Pleurogonius malaclemys) can predict diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) abundance.
- To assess the reliability of parasite life stages for estimating populations of difficult-to-sample wildlife.
Main Methods:
- Investigated prevalence and abundance of P. malaclemys larval stages in mud snails (Ilyanassa obsoleta) and external cysts.
- Correlated parasite data with terrapin abundance estimated via mark-recapture methods at 12 Georgia coastal sites.
Main Results:
- The abundance of external trematode cysts and environmental salinity significantly explained over 59% of the variability in terrapin abundance.
- Parasite prevalence in intermediate hosts and environmental factors are strong predictors of final host abundance.
Conclusions:
- The interconnected life cycles of multihost parasites provide reliable indicators of host population sizes.
- This approach offers a viable method for monitoring populations of species like the near threatened diamondback terrapin, which are challenging to survey directly.
