Occurrence of Merogony of Aggregata Frenzel 1885 (Apicomplexa) in Pleoticus muelleri and Artemesia longinaris (Crustacea: Natantia) from Patagonian Waters (Argentina)

The aim of this paper is to describe the merogonic phases of the coccidian Aggregata sp. in the natantians Pleoticus muelleri and Artemesia longinaris from Argentina. Ninety-seven specimens of P. muelleri (from San Jorge Gulf) and 49 of A. longinaris (from Rawson) were examined for intestinal parasites. Intestines were processed under standard histological conditions. The distribution of the octopuses (where gamogony and sporogony of Aggregata spp. take place) in the area considered and the importance of finding these protistans in crustaceans other than brachyurans are also explored. High prevalence values for both hosts indicate that shrimps are the primary hosts for these parasites in Argentinean waters. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997 Academic Press