First report of a member of the family Mermithidae parasitizing the sandhopper (Amphipoda, Talitridae) in Chile.

Specimens of the sandhopper (Amphipoda; Talitridae) collected from sandy beaches in south-central Chile, were found to be parasitized by juvenile mermithids, constituting the first record of a mermithid infecting a marine amphipod in Chile. A morphological description of juveniles is provided. Sequence analyses based on mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S rDNA of the mermithids showed extremely low genetic variation.

GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION OF ENTEROPARASITISM IN THE SOUTHERN SEA LION OTARIA FLAVESCENS (SHAW, 1800) OFF THE COAST OF CHILE AS EVIDENCED WITH COPROLOGICAL TESTS: IMPLICATONS FOR ZOONOTIC RISKS.

The scarce information on the helminth fauna in otariids from the Southeastern Pacific comes mainly from stranded individuals or killed for that purpose. In this study, we compared the abundance and composition of enteroparasitic assemblages of Otaria flavescens using coprological techniques. Three sampling localities from north to south spanning 2,200 km off the Chilean coast were considered (Iquique, Viña del Mar, and Talcahuano).

Effects of the cranial parasite sp. on the behavior and physiology of puye (Jenyns, 1842).

Diplostomatid digeneans are well-known manipulators of the behavior of their intermediate hosts. Unencysted metacercariae of sp. inhabit the cranial cavity of the fish ; however, to date they have not been documented to alter their host behavior.

Context-Dependence in parasite effects on keyhole limpets.

Parasites alter the reproductive performance of their hosts, limit their growth, and thereby modify the energy budget of these hosts. Experimental studies and theoretical models suggest that the outcome of the host-parasite interactions could be determined by ecological factors such as food availability levels in the local habitats. Nutrient inputs may affect the host's food resource availability with positive or negative effects on parasite infection rates and tolerance of infection, however this has not been specifically evaluated in natural systems.

Helminth Community Structure of the Gray Four-Eyed Opossum (Mammalia: Didelphidae) in the Neotropical Portion of Mexico.

Studies on helminth communities associated with didelphids are scarce; the majority of works have focused at taxonomic level. To increase the ecological knowledge of these host-parasite associations, during March (dry season) of 3 consecutive years (2013-2015) a total of 49 adults of the gray four-eyed opossum () was collected in the Neotropical portion of Mexico (Agua Fría, Chiapas State) and examined for helminths. The main objectives of this study were to describe the infra- and component communities of helminths associated with and to compare the helminth fauna of the Mexican population of this host species with those studied in French Guiana and in other Mexican terrestrial didelphids.