Intestinal Helminth Parasites of Caspian Turtle Mauremys Caspica (Gmelin, 1774) (Testudines, Geoemydidae) From Al-Diwaniya Province, Iraq

Abstract

The caspian turtle Mauremys caspica (Gmelin, 1774) is a medium-sized semi aquatic freshwater turtle. It is widely distributed in suitable areas throughout Iraq. A total of 28 road-killed specimens have been examined for their intestinal helminthic parasites. Results have been showed that 78.6% of this turtle were infected with one or more of following parasite species of Telorchis assula (Trematoda), Falcaustra araxiana, Serpinema microcephalus, and Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda).The statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences in prevalence between male and female turtles in parasitic infections (P<0.05) as the percentage of females was higher than males. Morphometric and meristic description for the helminthes have been provided. Reporting the nematode F. araxiana from M. caspica in this study constitutes a new record for Iraqi parasitic fauna as well as a new host record. It also expands the geographical distribution of this parasite to include Armenia, Iran and Iraq. A description based on measurements and number of these worms was given.

A New Host and a New Locality for Aspidogaster limacoides Diesing, 1834 (Trematoda: Aspidogastridae) Infecting the Caspian Freshwater Turtle Mauremys caspica (Gmelin, 1774) in Basrah Province, Iraq

“…Iraqi turtles have received a little attention from the biologists especially from the point of view of their parasitic fauna. Only eight references in this respect are known: Hamad (1985), Molan & Saeed (1990), Al-Hashimi (2006), Al-Barwari & Saeed (2007, Mustafa (2014), Al-Emarah (2015, Hussain (2015) and Shubber et al (2020). Out of these studies, only the last two studies (Mustafa, 2014;Al-Emarah, 2015) have been done in Basrah Province.…”

“…To the best of my knowledge, there are only one study dealt with the bacterial infection of soft shell turtle Rafetus euphraticus (Bannai et al, 2017) in addition to seven studies concerned with the helminth fauna of Iraqi turtles: Hamad (1985), Molan & Saeed (1990), Al-Hashimi (2006), Al-Barwari & Saeed (2007, Mustafa (2014), Al-Emarah (2015), Hussain (2015) and Shubber et al (2020). None of those studies referred to recording aspidogasrtian trematode from Iraqi turtles.…”