Infection patterns ofParadollfusnema amphisbaenia(Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) in a population ofAmphisbaena wuchereri(Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) from Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, and its relations with host size, sex and fat body mass

Abstract

Specimens (n ¼ 41) of the amphisbaenid Amphisbaena wuchereri taken from a population in Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. A single nematode species was found, Paradollfusnema amphisbaenia. This was a new host record for this nematode species. This parasite was encountered in the large intestine (prevalence of 100%), in the stomach (prevalence of 2%) and in the small intestine (prevalence of 7.3%). The intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 457 individual parasites per host and was positively correlated with body size of both male and female amphisbaenians. The discrepancy index (D) indicated that P. amphisbaenia tended to an even distribution in this host population. The nematode, which did not affect fat body mass, induced inflammatory infiltrations in the small intestine, indicating that the parasites might injure the host's organs.

Levels of helminth infection in the flat lizardTropidurus semitaeniatusfrom north-eastern Brazil

“…However, in spite of the increase in such studies in recent decades (e.g. Menezes et al , 2004; Ávila & Silva, 2011; Barreto-Lima et al, 2011; Filogonio et al, 2012; Galdino et al , 2014), efforts are still needed in order to understand the patterns of helminth diversity within Neotropical lizard hosts.…”