Endohelminths of European pond turtle Emys orbicularis in Southwest Iran

Abstract

Very little is known about parasitic diseases of European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) in Iran. The objective of this study is to examine parasitic fauna of European pond turtles collected from Fars province, southwest Iran. Carcasses of turtles (n = 52) which died during dredging procedure are collected from earthen fishery basins in Zarghan region. They have been died earlier during dredging procedure in different farms. Three species of helminths in total were found in gastrointestinal tract, including two nematodes (Serpinema microcephalus and Falcaustra araxiana) and one digenean trematod (Telorchis assula). Large intestines of all examined turtles were infected by F. araxiana (100 %, Mean intensity = 18) and this nematode were also found in gastric nodules. Nine turtles (17.3 %, 3 male, 6 female, Mean intensity = 3) were infected with Serpinema microcephalus. T. assula were found in 25 turtles (48.07 %, 5 male, 20 female, mean intensity = 5). Helminths were not found in any examined organs and no ectoparasite found eighter. F. araxiana is the most prevalent nematode in European pond turtles. Detection of Serpinema.microcephalus is in agreement with the fact which this parasite is common parasite of turtles in all over the world. T. assula might be transmitted between variety of reptiles so presence of the trematod should be considered as a risk factor for other reptiles.

Morphological and molecular analyses of the spiruroid nematode, Falcaustra araxiana Massino, 1924 (= Spironoura araxiana) from the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)

“…Different stages of nematodes recovered from the gastric nodules (fig. 1A) were previously identified as F. araxiana using morphological characteristics (Shayegh et al, 2016). Two stages of nematodes were identified, including larvae or pre-adults and adult worms with genitalia, some of which were in the nodules but the majority of adults occurred in the large intestine.…”

“…Worms were recovered from the large intestine and gastric nodules of European pond turtles ( E. orbicularis ) as described previously by Shayegh et al (2016). The worms were then examined for morphological features according to the previous reports (Yamaguti, 1962).…”

“…To date, there is little information about the phylogenetic position of the genus and only one gene sequence has been published (Hasegawa et al, 2013). There are two reports of Falcaustra araxiana in the large intestine of the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, from Armenia and Iran, albeit without molecular analysis (Yamaguti, 1962; Bursey & Rivera, 2009; Shayegh et al ., 2016). In our previous study, F. araxiana was found in the large intestine of the European pond turtle (Shayegh et al, 2016).…”

“…There are two reports of Falcaustra araxiana in the large intestine of the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, from Armenia and Iran, albeit without molecular analysis (Yamaguti, 1962; Bursey & Rivera, 2009; Shayegh et al ., 2016). In our previous study, F. araxiana was found in the large intestine of the European pond turtle (Shayegh et al, 2016). However, other helminths similar to F. araxiana in appearance, but different in size, were also discovered in gastric nodules.…”

Microflora and parasitofauna of alien and invasive turtle species

“…Ta grupa pasożytów pojawia się najczęściej w nowym środowisku wraz z obcym gatunkiem żywiciela [41]. Zawleczone pasożyty przyczyniają się do wysokiej zachorowalności oraz śmiertelności gatunków natywnych, takich jak Emys orbicularis [56,67]. W tabeli I przedstawiono gatunki pasożytów występujących u żółwi w Ameryce Północnej i w Euro-…”