Helminths and Pentastomida of two synanthropic gecko lizards, Hemidactylus mabouia and Phyllopezus pollicaris, in an urban area in Northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology 2014-11, Vol.74 (4), p.943-948
• Main Authors: Sousa, J G G, Brito, S V, Ávila, R W, Teles, D A, Araujo-Filho, J A, Teixeira, A A M, Anjos, L A, Almeida, W O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; BIOLOGY; Brazil; Cestoda; Female; Helminthiasis, Animal - parasitology; Helminths - classification; Helminths - isolation & purification; lizards; Lizards - parasitology; Male; Nematoda; parasites; Pentastomida; Pentastomida - classification
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375; 1678-4375; 1519-6984
• DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.01413

Helminths and pentastomids were examined in exotic Hemidactylus mabouia and native Phyllopezus pollicaris lizards, living synanthropically in an urban area in the municipality of Crato, Ceará state, northeastern Brazil. A total of 194 lizards were collected, being 76 specimens of H. mabouia e 118 specimens of P. pollicaris. Six parasite species were found infecting H. mabouia: the cestode Oochoristica sp., the nematodes Parapharyngodon sceleratus, Physaloptera retusa, Physalopteroides venancioi, and Spauligodon oxkutzcabiensis and the pentastomid Raillietiella mottae; while four parasite species were found associated with P. pollicaris: Oochoristica sp., P. sceleratus, P. retusa, and S. oxkutzcabiensis. Three new host records were reported: P. retusa infecting H. mabouia and P. retusa and Oochoristica sp. infecting P. pollicaris. About 75% of the parasites species found were shared by both lizards. Moreover, H. mabouia showed greater diversity than P. pollicaris (6 versus 4 species), while P. pollicaris had higher intensity of infection than H. mabouia (1536 versus 121 specimens).