Redescription of four species of<i>Mehdiella</i>from Testudinidae, with a key to the species and discussion on the relationships among the species of this genus

Bouamer, Salah; Morand, Sergé; Kara, Mohammed A.

doi:10.1051/parasite/2003104333

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Secondly, all collected adult oxyurids were washed in distilled water and subsequently stored in 70% ethanol. Thirdly, oxyurids were cleared in Amann lactophenol solution and subsequently identified to the species level following several keys (Petter, 1966; Bouamer & Morand, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2003a, 2003b, 2006; Bouamer, Morand & Bourgat, 2001a, 2001b; Bouamer, Morand & Kara, 2003). The number of Oxyuridae eggs and larvae present in the feces were not considered in this study because it was not possible to identify these immature stages to the species level (Traversa et al, 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of habitat loss on the diversity and structure of ecological networks between oxyurid nematodes and spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graecaL.)

Benítez‐Malvido

Gimenez

Graciá

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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Habitat loss and fragmentation are recognized as affecting the nature of biotic interactions, although we still know little about such changes for reptilian herbivores and their hindgut nematodes, in which endosymbiont interactions could range from mutualistic to commensal and parasitic. We investigated the potential cost and benefit of endosymbiont interactions between the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca L.) and adult oxyurid nematodes (Pharyngodonidae order Oxyurida) in scrublands of southern Spain. For this, we assessed the association between richness and abundance of oxyurid species with tortoises’ growth rates and body traits (weight and carapace length) across levels of habitat loss (low, intermediate and high). Furthermore, by using an intrapopulation ecological network approach, we evaluated the structure and diversity of tortoise–oxyurid interactions by focusing on oxyurid species infesting individual tortoises with different body traits and growth rates across habitats. Overall, tortoise body traits were not related to oxyurid infestation across habitats. Oxyurid richness and abundance however, showed contrasting relationships with growth rates across levels of habitat loss. At low habitat loss, oxyurid infestation was positively associated with growth rates (suggesting a mutualistic oxyurid–tortoise relationship), but the association became negative at high habitat loss (suggesting a parasitic relationship). Furthermore, no relationship was observed when habitat loss was intermediate (suggesting a commensal relationship). The network analysis showed that the oxyurid community was not randomly assembled but significantly nested, revealing a structured pattern for all levels of habitat loss. The diversity of interactions was lowest at low habitat loss. The intermediate level, however, showed the greatest specialization, which indicates that individuals were infested by fewer oxyurids in this landscape, whereas at high habitat loss individuals were the most generalized hosts. Related to the latter, connectance was greatest at high habitat loss, reflecting a more uniform spread of interactions among oxyurid species. At an individual level, heavier and larger tortoises tended to show a greater number of oxyurid species interactions. We conclude that there is an association between habitat loss and the tortoise–oxyurid interaction. Although we cannot infer causality in their association, we hypothesize that such oxyurids could have negative, neutral and positive consequences for tortoise growth rates. Ecological network analysis can help in the understanding of the nature of such changes in tortoise–oxyurid interactions by showing how generalized or specialized such interactions are under different environmental conditions and how vulnerable endosymbiont interactions might be to further habitat loss.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of habitat loss on the diversity and structure of ecological networks between oxyurid nematodes and spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graecaL.)

Benítez‐Malvido

Gimenez

Graciá

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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“…These health problems have prompted several researchers to carry out works on gastrointestinal parasite incidents (Chávarri et al, 2012;Hedley et al, 2013;Hallinger et al, 2018;Huffman et al, 2018). In this context, many studies have been conducted on infections (Bouamer et al, 2003;Gagno, 2005;Traversa et al, 2005;Al-Barwari & Saeed, 2007;Fournié et al, 2015;), but most of them on captive populations (De Castet -Flamant, 2002;Cutler, 2004;Pasmans et al, 2008;Pelichone et al, 2010;Chávarri et al, 2012;Hallinger et al, 2018). There have been few studies on tortoises living in a natural habitat where nematode infection dynamics may differ significantly from captivity (Chávarri et al, 2012).…”

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confidence: 99%

Prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in the vulnerable spur-thighed tortoise (<em>Testudo graeca</em>) from the central-western of Morocco

Mouden

Laghzaoui

Amahmid

et al. 2021

bah

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This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in wild Testudo graeca tortoises in Morocco. A total of 102 tortoises sampled in two arid areas: Central Jbilets Mountains (CJM) and Sidi Kaouki Forest (SKF) were macroscopically examined and subjected to qualitative (flotation and Baermann techniques) and quantitative (McMaster technique) microscopic examinations. The identified gastrointestinal parasites belong to two nematode families (Pharyngodonidae and Ascarididae) and three protozoa families (Balantidiidae, Eimeriidae and Entamoebidae). 92.1% of tortoises were determined to harbor one or more parasite types. Oxyurid adults were the most frequently encountered with a prevalence of 22.7% and 72.4% in CJM and SKF, respectively. Nematode eggs were found in almost all individuals of both populations studied. The prevalence of protozoa was 9.1% and 3.4% in CJM and SKF, respectively. Oxyurid adults showed the highest intensity in SKF (36.5 ± 30.2) whereas, ascarid adults are absent in CJM. Statistical analysis showed that the prevalence of infection by ascarids was significantly higher in adults than in juveniles. The intensity of infection by ascarid and oxyurid eggs differed significantly between sexes and localities, respectively. Our results showed a difference of infection between the two localities, which could be in relation with habitat quality. SKF is affected by both agriculture and overgrazing. In addition, the tortoises from this locality are active for a large part of the year, which increases their chance of encountering the parasites.

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Epidemiology and biology of nematodofauna affecting Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca and Testudo marginata in Italy

et al. 2005

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Tortoises of the genus Testudo living in Italy are Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca and Testudo marginata. Although a great deal of information has been acquired on the internal medicine and surgery on these animals, little is known of their parasitological fauna. A survey on the presence of gastro-intestinal parasitic nematodes in tortoises bred in Italy was carried out to acquire extensive epidemiological data. Stool samples of 62 tortoises (37 T. hermanni hermanni, 13 T. graeca, 6 T. hermanni boettgeri and 6 T. marginata) were macroscopically examined and subjected to qualitative (flotation and Baermann techniques) and quantitative (McMaster technique) microscopic examinations. Adult nematodes were identified using morphological keys. Eggs of oxyurids (species indistinguishable) and adults of Alaeuris numidica, Mehdiella microstoma, Mehdiella uncinata, Tachygonetria longicollis, Tachygonetria conica and Tachygonetria palearcticus (Oxyurida, Pharyngodonidae); larvae and adults of Atractis dactyluris (Ascaridida, Atractidae); and eggs and adults of Angusticaecum holopterum (Ascaridida, Ascarididae) were identified in all animals >1 year, whereas all tortoises <1 year of age were parasite-free. Moreover, this study reports for the first time A. numidica and M. microstoma in T. marginata. This work shows that nematodes affecting tortoises are diffused in Italy and highlights the need to investigate their epidemiology more in depth.

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Redescription of four species ofMehdiellafrom Testudinidae, with a key to the species and discussion on the relationships among the species of this genus

Abstract: Summary:Four species of the genus Mehdiella Seurat, 1918 are redescribed: M, cristata Petter, 1966 and M. stylosa dollfusi Petter, 1966

Cited by 6 publications

References 5 publications

Impact of habitat loss on the diversity and structure of ecological networks between oxyurid nematodes and spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graecaL.)

Impact of habitat loss on the diversity and structure of ecological networks between oxyurid nematodes and spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graecaL.)

Prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in the vulnerable spur-thighed tortoise (<em>Testudo graeca</em>) from the central-western of Morocco

Epidemiology and biology of nematodofauna affecting Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca and Testudo marginata in Italy

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