Squamata reptiles as a potential source of helminth infections when preyed on by companion animals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Squamate reptiles cohabiting with companion animals may represent a source of helminth infections, especially through predation by dogs and cats with an outdoor lifestyle.

Methods

In order to assess the role of reptiles as intermediate/paratenic hosts of trophically transmitted helminths, synanthropic reptiles (n = 245) captured from different ecological settings (i.e., households, dog shelters, urban, peri-urban and rural areas or natural parks) of southern Italy were examined for endoparasites. Parasitic cysts (i.e., larval forms of acanthocephalans, cestodes and nematodes) and free helminths (i.e., adult nematodes and digeneans) were morphologically and molecularly identified, and statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate the correlations between reptile

SUBMITTER: Carbonara M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10349445 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature