Helminths Infection Patterns in a Lizard (Tropidurus hispidus) Population from a Semiarid Neotropical Area: Associations Between Female Reproductive Allocation and Parasite Loads

Abstract

This study reports helminth infection patterns of the lizard Tropidurus hispidus from an area of semiarid caatinga in northeastern Brazil (Ceará state). The lizard population was parasitized by 8 helminth species, and the species composition of the component community resembles that found for other Neotropical lizards. The prevalence of parasites was higher for males compared with females, whereas no relation was found between intensity of infection of 2 parasites (Parapharyngodon alvarengai and Physaloptera lutzi) and the lizards body size. For reproductive females, parasite infection intensity was negatively correlated to reproductive investment.

Ecology and parasitism of the lizard Tropidurus jaguaribanus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from northeastern Brazil

“…The overall prevalence of parasites found in T. jaguaribanus is low in contrast to those of other species of Tropidurus (e.g., Anjos et al 2013, Pereira et al 2013, but the value is similar to that of T. semitaeniatus (Bezerra et al 2016). The prevalence is less than a half of that recorded for T. hispidus (63%) (Galdino et al 2014), which is sympatric with T. jaguaribanus. The low prevalence rate may result from the high temperature of the study area; the temperature can exceed 40°C and affect the life cycle of the parasites (Austin et al 2009).…”

“…and S. oscari) are relatively common in species of Tropidurus. They have been recorded in T. torquatus (Ribas et al 1998, T. semitaeniatus (Brito et al 2014, Bezerra et al 2016, T. hispidus (Anjos et al 2013, Galdino et al 2014), and T. guarani Alvarez, Cei and Scolaro, 1994(Vicente 1981). All parasites found in T. jaguaribanus are new host records.…”

“…The pattern of parasite infection, especially by helminths, is strongly associated with foraging patterns and use of available resources (food and space) by lizards (Anderson 2000, Ávila and Silva 2010, Sharpilo et al 2001, Brito et al 2014, Galdino et al 2014. Helminths are discrete components of the ecosystem and they can have a negative effect on the physical condition of their hosts (Thomas et al 2010) by causing alterations in metabolic functioning (Dare and Forbes 2008), sexual selection (Kose and Møller 1999), interspecific competition (Lafferty 1999), and growth (Kelehear et al 2011).…”

Helminth parasites of Phyllodactylidae and Gekkonidae lizards in a Caatinga ecological station, northeastern Brazil

“…Among this wide diversification of hosts, there is a great diversity of parasites in South American lizards (Ávila & Silva 2010), and several studies have recorded variation in parasite richness and diversity (Bursey & Goldberg 2004;Bursey et al 2005;Anjos et al 2013;Brito et al 2014a, b;Galdino et al 2014;Sousa et al 2014).…”

“…Knowledge of the lizard-associated helminth fauna has increased through research concerning (i) records of new hosts (Bursey & Goldberg 2004;Bursey et al 2005;Ávila & Silva 2010;McAllister et al 2011;Ávila et al 2012), (ii) descriptions of new parasite species Pereira et al 2012), and (iii) influence of biotic and abiotic variables on helminth diversity and abundance (Sharpilo et al 2001;Brito et al 2014a, b;Galdino et al 2014).…”