Helminth Parasites of thePelophylax esculentusComplex (Anura: Ranidae) in Hortobágy National Park (Hungary)

A study conducted in Hortobágy National Park, Hungary, revealed significant discrepancies in helminth parasite species of the Pelophylax esculentus complex frogs compared to baseline inventories from 40 years ago. Researchers identified seven helminth species, including Rhabdias esculentarum as a new species for the Hungarian fauna and three additional species (Diplodiscus subclavatus, Pleurogenes claviger, and Pleurogenoides medians) as new to the park's helminthofauna. The study applied the Document, Assess, Monitoring, Act (DAMA) protocol, which integrates parasite information into large-scale biodiversity studies. While the reasons for the observed changes remain unclear, potential factors include climate change or anthropogenic impacts, highlighting the need for further investigation.

Herczeg, D., Vörös, J., Végvári, Z., Kuzmin, Y., & Brooks, D. R. (2016). Helminth Parasites of thePelophylax esculentusComplex (Anura: Ranidae) in Hortobágy National Park (Hungary). Comparative Parasitology, 83(1), 36–48. https://doi.org/10.1654/1525-2647-83.1.36