Is a vertebrate a better host for a parasite than an invertebrate host? Fecundity of Proctoeces cf lintoni (Digenea: Fellodistomidae), a parasite of fish and gastropods in northern Chile.

The fecundity, the relationship between fecundity and worm size, as well as abundance of the adult worm Proctoeces cf. lintoni (Digenea: Fellodistomidae) in four gastropod hosts (keyhole limpets of the genus Fissurella) and one vertebrate host, the clingfish Sicyases sanguineus from northern Chile, were compared. Worms obtained from Fissurella latimarginata were smaller than those from Fissurella maxima, Fissurella limbata, and S. sanguineus. The mean fecundity of parasites from Fissurella crassa was significantly lower than those from F. limbata, F. maxima and S. sanguineus. For all invertebrate hosts, there were significant, positive relationships between worm size and fecundity, and the slopes of the regression did not differ significantly for the invertebrate hosts. Parasites of the keyhole limpet F. limbata and the clingfish showed the highest intensity, prevalence, and mean fecundity, and these species must be considered to be the hosts in which P. cf lintoni shows the best fitness.