The genetic diversity of blood parasites within the freshwater turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis in Tunisia reveals coinfection with Haemogregarina spp.

SUMMARYBlood parasites such as haemogregarines and haemosporidians have been identified in almost all groups of vertebrates and may cause serious damages to their hosts. However, very little is known about biodiversity of these parasites and their effects on some groups of reptiles such as terrapins. Moreover, the information on virulence from blood parasites mixed infection is largely unknown in reptiles. With this aim, we investigated for the first time the prevalence and genetic diversity of blood parasites from one genus of haemoparasitic aplicomplexan (Hepatozoon) in two populations of Spanish terrapins (Mauremys leprosa), a semi-aquatic turtle from southwestern Europe with a vulnerable conservation status. We also examined the association between mixed blood parasite infection and indicators of health of terrapins (body condition, haematocrit values and immune response). Blood parasite infection with Hepatozoon spp was detected in 46·4% of 140 examined terrapins. The prevalence of blood parasites infection differed between populations. We found two different lineages of blood parasite, which have not been found in previous studies. Of the turtles with infection, 5·7% harboured mixed infection by the two lineages. There was no difference in body condition between uninfected, single-infected and mixed-infected turtles, but mixed-infected individuals had the lowest values of haematocrit, thus revealing the negative effects of blood parasite mixed infections. Immune response varied among terrapins with different infection status, where mixed infected individuals had higher immune response than uninfected or single-infected terrapins.

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Identification of Blood Parasites in Individuals from Six Families of Freshwater Turtles

Chelonian Conservation and Biology ◽

10.2744/ccb-1411.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 85

Author(s):

Stephanie C. Nordmeyer ◽

Gina Henry ◽

Trina Guerra ◽

David Rodriguez ◽

Michael R.J. Forstner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Parasites ◽

Freshwater Turtles

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Helminths from the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans (Chelonia: Emydidae) in marshes from the eastern Iberian Peninsula: first report of Telorchis attenuata (Digenea: Telorchiidae)

Basic and Applied Herpetology ◽

10.11160/bah.38 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

Author(s):

JesÃºs Cardells ◽

MarÃa Magdalena Garijo ◽

Clara MarÃn ◽

Santiago Vera

Keyword(s):

Iberian Peninsula ◽

Intestinal Tract ◽

Trachemys Scripta ◽

Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽

Emys Orbicularis ◽

First Report ◽

Digenean Trematode ◽

Limited Sampling ◽

Mauremys Leprosa ◽

New Habitats

The present work describes the presence of a digenean in the red-eared turtle Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839) in marshes of the Valencian Community. The faeces and intestinal tract of 105 animals were examined. Only one helminth species was found and identified as the digenean trematode Telorchis atenuatta (Goldberger, 1911), present in the 7.6% of the animals analysed. This is the first report of the parasite in sliders from Spain. Although conclusions are preliminary due to the limited sampling, our results suggest that the presence of red-eared turtles in new habitats may increase the risk of introducing new microorganisms and new diseases with them, altering the sanitary status of the autochthonous terrapins Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812) and Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758).

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Basking Site Selection and Usage Strategies of the European Pond Turtle, Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) in Babat valley (Gödöllő, Hungary)

Russian Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.30906/1026-2296-2021-28-4-175-184 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 175-184

Author(s):

Gergő Erdélyi ◽

Borbála Szabó ◽

István Kiss

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Freshwater Turtles ◽

Emys Orbicularis ◽

Pond Turtle ◽

Site Type ◽

Type Selection ◽

Body Sizes ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Selection Of

Sun basking is the most common method for freshwater turtles, such as the European pond turtle, to maintain optimal body temperature. The attributes of the macro- and microhabitat features around the basking sites affect the basking site selection of the European pond turtle. To protect the European pond turtle, it is important to know the basking habits among the biological characteristics of the species, along with the effects of the habitat characteristics and the choice of the type of basking sites. The purpose of our research was to detect the effects of macro- and microhabitat features on the selection of basking sites. We wanted to determine basking site type selection according to the carapace length classes and if there is any difference in the choice of basking trunks and branches with different thicknesses. Turtles choose basking sites with less closed vegetation in their environment. We have detected seasonal differences in the microhabitat features. The closing reed and Typha sp. had a negative effect on the number of observed basking turtles. The most popular type of basking sites in the pond system was the commonly occurred fallen tree trunks and branches in the water, regardless of turtle body size. Most turtles used thinner tree trunks and branches for basking. In the meantime, we found differences in the choice of basking trunks between the turtles with different body sizes. Younger turtles with smaller bodies appeared in larger numbers on emergent branches with smaller diameters.

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Genetic diversity of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the South-West region of Hungary – first results

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/156853811x610744 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 519-526 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zsigmond Jeney ◽

Marcell Molnár ◽

István Magyary ◽

István Lehoczky ◽

Attila Zsolnai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Lake Balaton ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Emys Orbicularis ◽

Pond Turtle ◽

South West ◽

Ecological Corridor ◽

Catchment Areas ◽

First Results ◽

Drava River

AbstractA set of five polymorphic microsatellite markers developed in Emydoidea blandingii was characterized for crossspecies amplification in the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis. The markers were tested for polymorphism in a total of 155 turtles sampled in four natural habitats in the Danube-Drava National Park, South-West Hungary in order to determine the genetic diversity of European pond turtle populations and to check the functionality of existing ecological corridors in the region. The number of alleles varied from 5 to 24. Observed heterozygosity was moderate (0.43-0.55), while the level for expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.76 to 0.80. Significant heterozygote deficit was found in the populations accompanied by a low degree of genetic differentiation (FST ranges from 0.0166 to 0.0652). Wahlund effect was demonstrated in two populations. The ecological corridor between two water catchment areas (Lake Balaton and Drava River) fulfils its role only partially.

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Presence of the leech Placobdella costata in the south of the Iberian Peninsula

Acta Parasitologica ◽

10.2478/s11686-014-0232-4 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David Romero ◽

Jesús Duarte ◽

Lucía Narváez-Ledesma ◽

Miguel Farfán ◽

Raimundo Real

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Iberian Peninsula ◽

Fresh Water ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Southern Spain ◽

Freshwater Turtle ◽

Emys Orbicularis ◽

The North ◽

Mauremys Leprosa ◽

Fragmented Population

AbstractPlacobdella costata is a leech specific to freshwater turtle Emys orbicularis. Both genera are native to North America and have co-evolved and undergone dispersion through the Palearctic. The leech is present throughout the Mediterranean area, always associated with E. orbicularis. Their only known presence in the Iberian Peninsula is in the north and center of the peninsula. Here we present the first description of the leech in southern Spain (Andalusia) in association with a small fragmented population of fresh-water turtles in which E. orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa coexist. Unusually, the leech was found attached to the carapace of a male M. leprosa.

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Morphologic and Cytochemical Characteristics of Blood Cells from the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) and the Mediterranean Pond Turtle (Mauremys leprosa)

Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.5818/1529-9651-19.4.119 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 119 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

David Perpiñán ◽

Carmen Sánchez

Keyword(s):

Blood Cells ◽

Emys Orbicularis ◽

Pond Turtle ◽

Mauremys Leprosa ◽

The Mediterranean

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Haemogregarines from western Palaearctic freshwater turtles (generaEmys, Mauremys) are conspecific withHaemogregarina stepanowiDanilewsky, 1885

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182013001820 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 141 (4) ◽

pp. 522-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

NELA DVOŘÁKOVÁ ◽

JANA KVIČEROVÁ ◽

IVO PAPOUŠEK ◽

HOSSEIN JAVANBAKHT ◽

GHOULEM TIAR ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Specificity ◽

18S Rdna ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Freshwater Turtles ◽

Turtle Species ◽

Rdna Sequences ◽

Mauremys Leprosa ◽

18S Rdna Sequences ◽

Western Palaearctic

SUMMARYThe majority ofHaemogregarinaspecies have been based on the morphology of their erythrocytic stages and supposed strict host specificity. The quantity of species with a limited number of overlapping diagnostic traits has led to a considerable mess in haemogregarine taxonomy and significant synonymy. We analysed host specificity, intra- and interspecific variability, evolutionary relationships, and the distribution of the type species of the genusHaemogregarina–H. stepanowi.The morphology of blood stages and 18S rDNA sequences of this haemogregarine from four western Palaearctic hard-shelled freshwater turtles (Emys orbicularis, Mauremys caspica, Mauremys leprosaandMauremys rivulata) were compared withHaemogregarina balli. Additional sequences of 18S rDNA ofHaemogregarina-like isolates collected from three species of African hinged terrapins (genusPelusios) were used to enlarge the dataset for phylogenetic analyses. Thirteen sequences (1085 bp) ofHaemogregarinarepresenting all four western Palaearctic turtle species were identical, corresponding toH. stepanowi, which is closely related to the Nearctic speciesH. balli. In our analyses,Haemogregarinaspp. constituted a monophyletic clade sister to the genusHepatozoon. Haemogregarina stepanowipossesses a wide distribution range from the Maghreb, through Europe, Turkey and the Middle East to Iran. We consider that the genusHaemogregarinahas a low host specificity crossing the family level of its vertebrate hosts and that its distribution is likely to be linked to the vector and definitive host – the leech.

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Does the exotic invader turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, compete for food with coexisting native turtles?

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/017353710x552795 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 167-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Carmen Díaz-Paniagua ◽

Natividad Pérez-Santigosa ◽

Judith Hidalgo-Vila ◽

Margarita Florencio

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Age Groups ◽

Trachemys Scripta ◽

The Other ◽

Trachemys Scripta Elegans ◽

Emys Orbicularis ◽

Invasive Crayfish ◽

Exotic Invasive ◽

Mauremys Leprosa ◽

In The Wild

AbstractNowadays, established populations of exotic turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, coexist with native turtles in the wild in southern Spain. We analysed the diet of this exotic species and compared it with the diet of the two native species (Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis) in two ponds. The exotic turtle is an opportunistic omnivore. In one of our study ponds where exotic invasive crayfish were very abundant, adult and juvenile exotic turtles fed mainly on this prey. In the other study pond, juveniles fed mainly on animal matter and adults ate similar proportions of plants and animals. Native turtles also ingested mainly crayfish in the first study pond, but M. leprosa were mainly herbivorous in the second pond. We did not detect strong differences among the diets of the three species. While native species significantly differ in their diets, the exotic turtles did not differ from some groups of native ones. Exotic turtles had the widest range of food, overlapping the food spectra of different age groups of the two native species in both localities. Comparing with previous reports on native turtles diet of the same area, our results did not reveal changes in the diet which could be associated to interactions with exotic turtles, but the observed shift to a higher proportion of animals in the diet in one of the ponds were mainly due to the high abundance of exotic crayfish.

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