Zoonotic Parasites of Reptiles: A Crawling Threat

Abstract

Reptiles are reservoirs of a wide range of pathogens, including many protozoa, helminths, pentastomids, and arthropod parasitic species, some of which may be of public health concern. In this review we discuss the zoonotic risks associated with human-reptile interactions. Increased urbanization and introduction of exotic species of reptile may act as drivers for the transmission of zoonotic parasites through the environment. In addition, being a part of human diet, reptiles can be a source of life-threatening parasitoses, such as pentastomiasis or sparganosis. Finally, reptiles kept as pets may represent a risk to owners given the possibility of parasites transmitted by direct contact or fecal contamination. Awareness of reptile-borne zoonotic parasitoses is important to advocate control, prevention, and surveillance of these neglected diseases. Humans, Reptiles, and…Their ParasitesCrawling creatures, identified as reptiles (from the Latin repere 'to crawl'), include a polyphyletic (see Glossary) group of animals belonging to different orders and a large number of species (Box 1) [1]. In many aspects, reptiles represent enigmatic creatures and arouse an incredible range of feelings in humans as they are perceived, according to different cultures, as fascinating and even worshipped in some African and Asian societies, such as the ball pythons (Python regius) and black cobra (Naja melanoleuca) in Africa, or scary and disgusting wild creatures crawling on earth, mainly in the western world [2]. Accordingly, the symbolic usage of reptiles varied through history in many cultures. The range of attitudes of humans toward reptiles commonly affects their conservation, being often persecuted as dangerous creatures (P. Luís Ceríaco, Master's Thesis, Évora University, 2010). Nowadays, reptiles have become popular exotic pets and account for an estimated 21% of the value of the live animal trade [3]. In addition, in some parts of the world, the reptiles are used as important source of food, medicines, and materials (e.g., the leather industry) (Box 2).

Role of reptiles and associated arthropods in the epidemiology of rickettsioses: A one health paradigm

“…burnetii , A . phagocytophilum , Borrelia lusitaniae and eventually become infected themselves by these bacteria [ 7 , 10 , 11 , 26 – 31 , 32 ]. Nonetheless, the significance of reptiles, such as lizards, in the ecology of Rickettsiales and in the epidemiology of human infections is still to be ascertained.…”

Further studies of neuroangiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease) in Australian dogs: 92 new cases (2010–2020) and results for a novel, highly sensitive qPCR assay

“…The disease also occurs in horses (Wright et al, 1991), zoo animals including primates (Carlisle et al, 1998) and wildlife species such as parrots, tawny frogmouths (Reece et al, 2013), possums (Ma et al, 2013) and bats (Reddacliff et al, 1999;Barrett et al, 2002). NA follows the ingestion of snails and slugs, the intermediate hosts of A. cantonensis and A. mackerrasae, and potentially by ingestion of transport hosts such as planarians, centipedes, rodents and lizards (Mackerras and Sandars, 1955;Jindrak and Alicata, 1970;Bhaibulaya, 1975; Barratt et al, 2016;Mendoza-Roldan et al, 2020). Third stage larvae (L 3 ) arrested in tissues of snails and transport hosts represent the infectious propagules for disease transmission (Bhaibulaya, 1975; Barratt et al, 2016).…”

Illegal wildlife trade in local markets of Feuang and Mad districts of Vientiane Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

“…The higher volumes of Muridae (rats), Sciuridae (squirrels), and Hipposideridae (bats) are of special concern as these families are reservoir hosts of several zoonotic pathogens ranging from hantavirus and Nipah virus to SARS and Ebola ( Chua et al 2002 ; Lau et al 2005 ; Kim et al 2009 ; Olival et al 2013 ). Different from mammals, most birds and reptiles act as intermediate hosts rather than definitive hosts ( Mendoza-Roldan et al 2020 ). Approximately, 2.7 million human deaths and 2.5 billion human illnesses are attributable to zoonotic diseases globally ( Gebreyes et al 2014 ).…”