Aspects of the ecology of Proteocephalid Cestode Parasites of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1803) and Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) from YSR (Kadapa) District, Andhra Pradesh, India

The Indian bull frog, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus Daudin, 1803 and Asian common toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus Schneider, 1799 are frequently found to be infected with the proteocephalid cestodes. The seasonal dynamics of the Proteocephalus sp. was studied in both amphibians during February, 2013 to January, 2015 from YSR (Kadapa) District, Andhra Pradesh. Of the total 300 H. tigerinus examined, only 18 frogs (6%) were infected with the cestode, Proteocephalus tigrinus and of the 46 D. melanostictus examined, only 15 frogs (32.6%) were found to be infected with Proteocephalus sp. Intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 11(n=31) in H. tigerinus and 1 to 2 (n= 19) in D. melanostictus. Monthly population dynamics of cestodesof H. tigerinus and D. melanostictus were analysed in terms of prevalence, mean intensity, mean abundance and index of infection. The effect of habitat predilection and the impact of season on the parasitic load were analysed. The impact of host size and sex on the intensity of infection was also studied.