Resumen

ASTETE-ESPINOZA, Lorena P.  y  CACERES M, Cristian W.. Effects of parasitism in nutritional physiology of the ghost shrimp Neotrypaea uncinata parasitized by the isopod Ionella agassizi. Rev. chil. hist. nat. [online]. 2000, vol.73, n.2, pp. 243-252. ISSN 0716-078X.  doi: 10.4067/S0716-078X2000000200003.

The ghost shrimp Neotrypaea uncinata is parasitized in the branchial chamber for the isopod Ionella agassizi. Previous works had indicated that the parasite causes a negative effect in the reproductive biology of the ghost shrimp, influencing seriously the development of reproductive organs and the expression of secondary sexual characteristics. This effect can be produced by a general reduction of the reserve substances of N. uncinata caused by the presence of the parasite. In order to evaluate the effect of the parasite on the nutritional status of the ghost shrimp we measured the concentration of some metabolites related to the nutritional physiology of N. uncinata. The results showed a greater frequency of infection in adult males, which suggests differential mortality by effect of the parasite through the host ontogeny. The parasitized individuals showed a reduction of the body mass and a diminution of both protein and haemocyanin levels. However, the measured lactate levels are smaller in parasitized individuals, but the levels of glucose were higher in this individuals, this relationships suggest the use of lactate as substrate for glucose synthesis. Finally the lipid reduction in parasitized ghost shrimps demonstrates the scarcity of the reserve substances in this species

Palabras clave : parasitism; physiology; hemolymph; isopod; ghost shrimp.