Biodiversity of Helminths in genera of Bufotes and Pelophylax, Uzbekistan

Abstract

Between 2000 and 2022, a study in Uzbekistan examined 1822 amphibians (624 Bufotes genus, 1198 Pelophylax genus) to assess helminth biodiversity. Species studied included Perrin's Green Toad, Pewzow's Toad, Turan Toad, Terentiev Water Frog, Pelophylax sp., and Pelophylax terentievi × Pelophylax sp. hybrid. The study revealed the presence of 66 species of parasitic helminths, including those from the classes Cestoda, Trematoda, Acanthocephala, and Nematode, in Uzbekistan's amphibians. Notably, the genus Bufotes and the genus Pelophylax were newly identified as hosts for 14 helminth species in the country. The biological diversity of amphibian helminths in Uzbekistan consists of 66 species, with varying distribution: 42 in the North-Eastern region, 40 in the Eastern region, 38 in the Southern region, 25 in the Central region, and 17 in the North-Western region.