<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>We conducted a survey of the presence, prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths in faecal samples and stomach contents of three turtle species, — Erymnochelys madagascariensis (Chelonia: Podocnemididae), Pelomedusa subrufa and Pelusios castanoides (Chelonia: Pelomedusidae), — from several localities in Madagascar. Four nematode species were detected: Atractis chabaudi, Camallanus chelonius, Falcaustra pelusios, and Spiroxys sp. E. madagascariensis, with all four species, had the greatest helminth diversity. A. chabaudi was the community’s core species, whereas Spiroxys sp. was a satellite species. Only two species (A. chabaudi and Spiroxys sp.) were found in P. subrufa and only one, Spiroxys sp., in P. castanoides. These are the first helminthological data on E. madagascariensis, one of the most threatened freshwater turtles in the world.</p></abstract>

We conducted a survey of the presence, prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths in faecal samples and stomach contents of three turtle species, — Erymnochelys madagascariensis (Chelonia: Podocnemididae), Pelomedusa subrufa and Pelusios castanoides (Chelonia: Pelomedusidae), — from several localities in Madagascar. Four nematode species were detected: Atractis chabaudi, Camallanus chelonius, Falcaustra pelusios, and Spiroxys sp. E. madagascariensis, with all four species, had the greatest helminth diversity. A. chabaudi was the community’s core species, whereas Spiroxys sp. was a satellite species. Only two species (A. chabaudi and Spiroxys sp.) were found in P. subrufa and only one, Spiroxys sp., in P. castanoides. These are the first helminthological data on E. madagascariensis, one of the most threatened freshwater turtles in the world.

Gastrointestinal helminths found in the three freshwater turtles (Erymnochelys madagascariensis, Pelomedusa subrufa and Pelusios castanoides) from Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar

Departament de Zoología, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100, Burjassot, València, Spain

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrés Manor, Jersey, Channel IslandsBritish Isles (UK), JE3 5BP, USA

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

We conducted a survey of the presence, prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths in faecal samples and stomach contents of three turtle species, —...

Gastrointestinal helminths found in the three freshwater turtles (Erymnochelys madagascariensis, Pelomedusa subrufa and Pelusios castanoides) from Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar

Published Online: Dec 01, 2007

Page range: 177 - 182

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11687-007-0028-2

Keywords
turtles, nematodes, Madagascar

© 2007 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice, Slovakia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Gastrointestinal helminths found in the three freshwater turtles (Erymnochelys madagascariensis, Pelomedusa subrufa and Pelusios castanoides) from Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar

Published Online: Dec 01, 2007

Page range: 177 - 182

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11687-007-0028-2

Keywordsturtles, nematodes, Madagascar

© 2007 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice, Slovakia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
turtles, nematodes, Madagascar