First helminthological data on Iberian vipers: Helminth communities and host-parasite relationships

2006 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Santos ◽  
Fernando Martínez-Freiría ◽  
Juan Pleguezuelos ◽  
Vicente Roca
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Low Prevalence

AbstractEuropean vipers are ambush predators with sporadic feeding events, thereby maintaining the digestive tract empty for long periods. According to previous studies relating lizards’ dietary habits and their helminth faunas, we predict poor gastrointestinal helminth communities in vipers. To test this hypothesis, we have examined the digestive tract of 86 specimens of Vipera aspis (L., 1758) and V. latastei Boscá, 1878, from several localities of the Iberian Peninsula. We found adults of only two nematode species Kalicephalus viperae (Rud., 1819) and Ophidascaris sp. and cysts adhering to the external wall on the stomach in case of two other nematode species Ascarops strongylina (Rud., 1819) and Spirurida gen. sp. All these nematodes are common parasite species in snakes, although Ophidascaris sp. has never before been recorded in Vipera sp. The low prevalence and small number of parasite species in Iberian vipers matched their low feeding rates. However, our results contrast with studies in Poland and Belarus of V. berus species, in which nematodes, as well as trematodes, are common and abundant. Rainfall rates are lower in the Iberian Peninsula than in eastern Central Europe, where amphibians are more available and consumed by V. berus. Amphibians, intermediate hosts for these helminths, have been recorded only sporadically as prey for V. aspis and V. latastei, thus supporting the absence of trematodes in both Iberian viper species. Among populations of Iberian vipers, the prevalence of parasites correlates with the feeding rate (i.e. percentage of vipers with prey), suggesting a linkage between the two parameters. In conclusion, our results suggest that several factors, including climatic characteristics of localities, feeding rates of predators, and type of prey consumed, influence the number and type of parasites in Iberian vipers.

Gastrointestinal helminth communities of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Teleostei: Sparidae) from Portuguese north-east Atlantic waters

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hermida ◽  
C. Cruz ◽  
A. Saraiva
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Species ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
East Atlantic ◽  
North East ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Single Host ◽  
Pagellus Bogaraveo

AbstractA study was carried out on the gastrointestinal helminth communities of blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo, from the Portuguese mainland and island waters. Fifteen helminth parasite species were detected, including the following new records in this host: the digeneans Accacladocoelium petasiporum, Brachyenteron helicoleni,Glomericirrus macrouri, Lecithocladium excisum, Lepocreadium album and Pachycreadium carnosum; the nematode Camallanus sp. and the acanthocephalan Rhadinorhynchus pristis. Infection levels were generally low. Samples from mainland waters had a significantly higher prevalence of digeneans than those from the islands, probably due to the greater availability of invertebrate intermediate hosts on the continental slope. The helminth community of P. bogaraveo from Azores was diverse but mostly composed of species that infected no more than a single host, whereas in Madeira the helminth community was very depauperate. Most helminth species exhibited niche preferences within the gastrointestinal tract of the host. Higher functional richness and evenness were obtained in helminth communities of P. bogaraveo from mainland waters, indicating a balanced use of available resources, which is suggestive of more stable gastrointestinal helminth communities in these waters.

Impact of the degree of urbanization on composition and structure of helminth communities in the Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus) Peters, 1869

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z.N. Dugarov ◽  
D.R. Baldanova ◽  
T.R. Khamnueva
Keyword(s):  
Shannon Index ◽  
Complex Life Cycle ◽  
Urban Gradient ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Rural Districts ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Two Parameters

AbstractThe effects of the degree of urbanization on the composition and mean abundance of helminth species and the structure of helminth communities in the Mongolian racerunner were investigated along a rural–urban gradient in the region of Ulan-Ude city (the Republic of Buryatia, Russia) and neighbouring rural districts. Racerunners were obtained from key areas and categorized into three grades based on the degree of urbanization. In this study, a total of 208 lizards were examined. The helminth communities in the Mongolian racerunner were studied at the infracommunity and component community levels. The nematode Spauligodon pseudoeremiasi was a sensitive bioindicator of the degree of urbanization in our study. All parameters of helminth infracommunities in the Mongolian racerunner were significantly reduced with increasing degree of urbanization of the key areas. Two parameters of helminth component communities (the proportion of hosts infected with parasites and the Shannon index) were significantly reduced with increasing degree of urbanization. The decline recorded in parameters of helminth infracommunities and component communities in the Mongolian racerunner were probably connected with the attenuation of the relationships between helminths, having a complex life cycle with intermediate hosts along the rural–urban gradient.

Helminth communities of Leptodactylus latrans (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the Atlantic rainforest, south-eastern Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.M. Toledo ◽  
D.H. Morais ◽  
R.J. Silva ◽  
L.A. Anjos
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Disturbed Environment

AbstractThe helminth fauna associated with Leptodactylus latrans, a large frog living in a disturbed environment of Atlantic rainforest in south-eastern Brazil, was evaluated. We found eight helminth taxa, including five nematode species, Falcaustra mascula, Oswaldocruzia subauricularis, Physaloptera sp., Rhabdias sp. and an unidentified cosmocercid, two trematodes, Gorgoderina parvicava and Haematoloechus fuelleborni, and one larval cestode. The overall prevalence of infection was 63.2% with a mean intensity of 11.3 ± 3.8. The cosmocercid nematode and O. subauricularis showed the highest prevalences, although the trematode G. parvicava was the most abundant and dominant parasite species. Host size positively influenced both the intensity of infection and parasite species richness. Our data suggest that the juvenile individuals of L. latrans are more susceptible to parasitic infection than the adults. The comparison of the similarity of this community component with that found in other studies in South America shows that, as well as the characteristics of the host, the sampling area also influences the parasitic fauna. Therefore, the results of this study agree that the helminth communities of frogs have relatively low species richness and dominance of generalist species.

Helminth communities in murid rodents from southern and northern localities in Lao PDR: the role of habitat and season

2013 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Pakdeenarong ◽  
P. Siribat ◽  
K. Chaisiri ◽  
B. Douangboupha ◽  
A. Ribas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Lao Pdr ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Helminth Species ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
South East Asian Region ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Murid Rodents

AbstractThe helminth communities of wild murid rodents were investigated in Luang Prabang and Champasak province, Lao PDR. Thirteen species of rodents (404 individuals) were infected by 19 species of parasites (2 trematode, 3 cestode, 14 nematode species). Four of the recorded helminth species (Echinostoma malayanum,Raillietinasp.,Hymenolepis diminutaandH. nana)are known to cause potential zoonotic helminthiases of medical importance in the South-East Asian region. Individual helminth infection was significantly higher in the wet season. Habitat significantly influenced individual helminth species richness and individual helminth abudance, with a decrease of individual helminth species richness and individual helminth abundance from forest habitat to agricultural and human settlement habitats. The reduction of helminth diversity and abundance is discussed in relation to the ongoing increase of human influence on habitats in Lao PDR.

scholarly journals Diet and nematode infection in Proceratoprhys boiei (Anura: Cycloramphidae) from two Atlantic rainforest remnants in Southeastern Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 1303-1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thaís Klaion ◽  
Mauricio Almeida-gomes ◽  
Luiz E. R. Tavares ◽  
Carlos F. D. Rocha ◽  
Monique Van Sluys
Keyword(s):  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Larval Stage ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Helminth Fauna ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Food Items

Proceratophrys boiei is an endemic cycloramphid anuran inhabiting the leaf litter of Atlantic rainforests in Southeastern Brazil. We analyzed the whole digestive tract of 38 individuals of Proceratophrys boiei collected in two Atlantic Rainforest areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to study the diet composition and the helminth fauna associated with this species. The main food items in P. boiei's diet were Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Blattaria. Five nematode species were found: Aplectana delirae, Cosmocerca parva, Oxyascaris oxyascaris, Physaloptera sp. (larval stage only) and an unidentified nematode. Overall prevalence was 71% and mean infection intensity was 7.3 ± 5.8 neatodes per individual.

scholarly journals Predicting the effects of parasite co-infection across species boundaries

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1874) ◽  
pp. 20172610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Lello ◽  
Susan J. McClure ◽  
Kerri Tyrrell ◽  
Mark E. Viney
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Haemonchus Contortus ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Species Boundaries ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Parasite Control ◽  
Host System ◽  
Specific Outcome

It is normal for hosts to be co-infected by parasites. Interactions among co-infecting species can have profound consequences, including changing parasite transmission dynamics, altering disease severity and confounding attempts at parasite control. Despite the importance of co-infection, there is currently no way to predict how different parasite species may interact with one another, nor the consequences of those interactions. Here, we demonstrate a method that enables such prediction by identifying two nematode parasite groups based on taxonomy and characteristics of the parasitological niche. From an understanding of the interactions between the two defined groups in one host system (wild rabbits), we predict how two different nematode species, from the same defined groups, will interact in co-infections in a different host system (sheep), and then we test this experimentally. We show that, as predicted, in co-infections, the blood-feeding nematode Haemonchus contortus suppresses aspects of the sheep immune response, thereby facilitating the establishment and/or survival of the nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis ; and that the T. colubriformis -induced immune response negatively affects H. contortus . This work is, to our knowledge, the first to use empirical data from one host system to successfully predict the specific outcome of a different co-infection in a second host species. The study therefore takes the first step in defining a practical framework for predicting interspecific parasite interactions in other animal systems.

scholarly journals DNA Footprints: Using Parasites to Detect Elusive Animals, Proof of Principle in Hedgehogs

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1420
Author(s):  
Simon Allen ◽  
Carolyn Greig ◽  
Ben Rowson ◽  
Robin B. Gasser ◽  
Abdul Jabbar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parasitic Nematode ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Molecular Test ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
Second Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Specific Parasite ◽  
Objective Tool ◽  
Proof Of Principle

The Western European Hedgehog (Erinaceous europaeus) is a nocturnal animal that is in decline in much of Europe, but the monitoring of this species is subjective, prone to error, and an inadequate basis for estimating population trends. Here, we report the use of Crenosoma striatum, a parasitic nematode specific to hedgehogs as definitive hosts, to detect hedgehog presence in the natural environment. This is achieved through collecting and sampling the parasites within their intermediate hosts, gastropoda, a group much simpler to locate and sample in both urban and rural habitats. C. striatum and Crenosoma vulpis were collected post-mortem from the lungs of hedgehogs and foxes, respectively. Slugs were collected in two sessions, during spring and autumn, from Skomer Island (n = 21), which is known to be free of hedgehogs (and foxes); and Pennard, Swansea (n = 42), known to have a healthy hedgehog population. The second internal transcribed spacer of parasite ribosomal DNA was used to develop a highly specific, novel, PCR based multiplex assay. Crenosoma striatum was found only at the site known to be inhabited by hedgehogs, at an average prevalence in gastropods of 10% in spring and autumn. The molecular test was highly specific: One mollusc was positive for both C. striatum and C. vulpis, and differentiation between the two nematode species was clear. This study demonstrates proof of principle for using detection of specific parasite DNA in easily sampled intermediate hosts to confirm the presence of an elusive nocturnal definitive host species. The approach has great potential as an adaptable, objective tool to supplement and support existing ecological survey methods.

Intestinal helminth parasites in flounderPlatichthys flesusfrom the River Thames: an infracommunity analysis

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Guillen-Hernandez ◽  
P.J. Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Species ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Marine Influence ◽  
River Thames

AbstractAn analysis was undertaken of intestinal helminth communities in flounderPlatichthys flesusfrom two sites on the River Thames. A comparison was made between helminth community richness and diversity from these sites at the component and infracommunity levels. At the component community level, a richer and more diverse parasite community was found in flounder from the Tilbury location (marine influence) than that from the Lots Road location (freshwater influence). At the infracommunity level, more parasite species and parasite individuals per host were found at Lots Road and the percentage of similarity values were low at both locations. Helminth species with high prevalence values in the parasite communities of the flounder are the dominant species in any individual fish, harbouring multi-specific infections. The presence of more invertebrate species, which are intermediate hosts in the helminth life cycle in the Thames, fish vagility and the high prevalence and abundance values ofPomphorhynchus laevisin the flounder, may explain the differences between the two locations.

Gastric Nematode Communities in Lizards From the Great Victoria Desert, and an Hypothesis for Their Evolution

1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
HI Jones
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Geographical Range ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Evolutionary Phase ◽  
Paratenic Hosts

This study examines the biology of gastric nematodes in two communities of lizards from the Great Victoria Desert, and develops an hypothesis for their evolution. Abbreviata antarctica A. hastaspicula, A, levicauda, A. tumidocapitis, Skrjabinoptera goldmanae, Kreisiella chrysocampa, Physalopteroides filicauda, Wanaristrongylus ctenoti and W. papangawurpae were recovered from 3023 lizards of 45 species from two different habitats. Genera in the Physalopterinae (Abbreviata, Skrjabinoptera and Kreisiella) exhibited narrow host specificities, Abbreviara and Skrjabinoptera occurring as adults only in larger host species (Varanus gouldii, V. tristis and Pogona minor). P. filicauda and encysted larvae of Physalopterinae occurred widely in the smaller lizard species in all five families represented. Eight of the nine nematode species were recovered from both lizard populations, and differences in prevalence and number of host species infected are discussed in terms of core hosts providing an infective pool. Associations were derived between parameters of infection (prevalence, intensity and abundance) and host size across and within species; abundance of nematodes in Ctenotus skinks correlated with host geographical range. Epidemiological evidence is presented that suggests that termites are intermediate hosts to species of Physalopterinae, and that Orthoptera may be intermediate hosts to P.filicauda. It is suggested that species in the Physalopterinae arose in smaller lizards (where they are now represented by the morphologically primitive Kreisiella), and that they were acquired by large predatory species by host capture, and in which they are now speciating. The small lizards now act as paratenic hosts to their larvae, and the niches left vacant have been occupied by P. filicauda. It is concluded that P.filicauda is at an early non-interactive phase and that Abbreviata and Skrjabinoptera are at an evolutionary phase, and are evolving along with their hosts. Thus, the two principal nematode groups arose at different times in response to the radiation and ecology of their hosts, and are at different stages in their own evolution.

Checklist of the parasites of the black-necked swan, Cygnus melanocoryphus (Aves: Anatidae), with new records from Chile

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2637 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA ◽  
LUCILA MORENO ◽  
ARMANDO CICCHINO ◽  
SERGEY MIRONOV ◽  
MIKE KINSELLA
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
Southern Cone ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
New Host ◽  
Echinostoma Trivolvis ◽  
New Host Records

Black-necked swans (Cygnus melanocoryphus) are endemic to the southern cone of South America. Their range extends from Brazil and Paraguay south to Argentina and Chile. A total of 16 parasite species were collected from 7 swans from the Biobio region, Chile, of which 12 are new records for Chile and 11 represent new host records, Echinostoma trivolvis, Paranomostomum sp., Microsomacanthus sp., Nadejdolepis sp., Retinometra sp., Avioserpens sp., Capillaria skrjabini, Ingrassia cygni, Anatoecus penicillatus, A. icterodes and A. keymeri. A checklist is presented that summarizes sites of infections, localities, life cycles and their intermediate hosts (if known), and the pertinent references to demonstrate the wide diversity of parasites of black-necked swans. Our review of the existing literature (23 publications) along with our own records provided information on a total of 18 families and 27 genera, including 33 described species (some only identified to genus), of which 11 were recorded only in Chile (8 endoparasites and 3 ectoparasites), and 6 only in Argentina (4 endoparasites and 2 ectoparasites). Five parasites are known only from captive swans in European zoos. Parasites recorded from C. melanocoryphus include 23 helminths and 10 ectoparasites (one leech and 9 arthropods).

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