Variability in prevalence of Cymatocarpus solearis (Trematoda, Brachycoeliidae) in Caribbean spiny lobsters Panulirus argus (Decapoda: Palinuridae) from Bahía de la Ascensión (Mexico).

Cymatocarpus solearis, a brachycoeliid trematode that parasitizes sea turtles, uses spiny lobsters Panulirus argus as second intermediate hosts. We examined variability in infection by C. solearis in Bahía de la Ascensión, Mexico, a tropical bay with a highly productive fishery for P. argus that is based on the extensive use of casitas (large artificial shelters), which can harbor multiple juveniles and adults of this gregarious lobster species. We sampled 3956 lobsters from 466 casitas distributed over three bay zones within two closed seasons and one fishing season. In these lobsters (9.5-115.2mm carapace length, CL), the average infection prevalence was 11.7% but the probability of infection increased significantly with size. Prevalence varied with season but was consistently higher in one zone than in the other two zones. Infection with C. solearis was negatively related with clinical infection with Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1). We also sampled 405 lobsters from the commercial catch obtained throughout the bay at the onset of the fishing season. In these relatively larger lobsters (70.3-168.0mm CL), average prevalence of C. solearis was higher (23.5%) but was not affected by lobster size or sex. Encysted metacercariae occurred in both abdominal and cephalothoracic muscles. The effects of C. solearis on phenotypic traits of P. argus that may potentially impact the host population dynamics and fisheries remain to be investigated.