Sex Hormones as a Possible Factor influencing the Level of Parasitization in Frogs (original) (raw)

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• Published: 31 December 1960

Nature volume 188, pages 1207–1208 (1960)Cite this article

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Abstract

LARGE numbers of frogs (Rana temporaria) have been examined for helminth, parasites during the period 1956–60. On analysing the results of these investigations, it was found that the level of parasitization in male frogs during and immediately before the breeding season was considerably higher than that in females. This difference between the levels of parasitization in the two sexes was particularly marked in the case of the trematodes, Polystoma integerrimum and Gorgoderina vitelliloba, the nematode, Rhabdias bufonis, and the acanthocephalan, Acanthocephalus ranae. After the breeding season, the difference became less marked. This is evident from Table 1, which is based on the results obtained by examining approximately 500 frogs from a single locality, over a period of four years. Similar, although less conclusive, results have been obtained by Markov1 and Mazurmovich2.

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References

1. Markov, G. S., and Rogosa, M. L., C.R. Acad. Sci., U.S.S.R., 65, 417 (1960).
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2. Mazurmovich, B. N., “Paraziticheskie Chervi Amfibii” (Kiev, 1951).
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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Technology, Bradford
   E. LEES & L. BASS

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LEES, E., BASS, L. Sex Hormones as a Possible Factor influencing the Level of Parasitization in Frogs.Nature 188, 1207–1208 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/1881207a0

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• Issue date: 31 December 1960
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1881207a0

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