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Afr. J. Ecol., 1979, Volume 17, pages 177-180 Parasites of Zambian reptiles Introduction Few studies have been made on the ectoparasites and endoparasites of African reptiles. Much of the present knowledge was reviewed by Bedford (1932), Mettrick (1950), Ortlepp (1961), Smyth (1962), Smit (1964) and Colbo (1973). Despite the great interest of herpetologists in reptile parasitology, there is a lack of detailed knowledge on the pathological and physiological effects of parasites on reptiles. This has mainly been a result of inadequate knowledge of the taxonomy and life histories of reptile parasites in general. Hence the object of this study is to document previously un- reported parasites of Zambian reptiles and to summarize briefly the life histories of some metazoan parasites. Methods During monthly examinations of the reproductive tracts of reptiles for signs of breeding, the opportunity was taken to collect any ectoparasites and endoparasites present. The host reptiles were collected from Dambwa Forest Reserve 3 km north of Livingstone, Zambia, 17"46'S, 25"51'E, 920-960 m above sea level and Songwe River Gorge in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, middle Zambezi, 16 km south-east of Livingstone, Zambia, 17"58'S, 25'58'E 883-914 m above sea level. Results Parasites and parasite preparation. Ticks (Ixodidea) recovered from killed reptiles were carefully detached with forceps and preserved in 70% alcohol : 3% glycerol. Nematodes (Oxyuroidea and Spiruroidea), as well as cestodes (Anoplocephalidea), were extracted from the digestive tract of host reptiles immediately after the death of the host. Samples were washed in 1% saline to remove mucus and other host debris. The nematodes were killed in hot (steaming) alcohol and transferred to storage bottles containing cool 70% methanol : 3% glycerol. Cestodes were placed on glass slides and spread out with a brush whilst an assistant poured a fixative along the worms until they were extended with all segments visible. Thereafter the worms were fixed in 5% formalin. This procedure resulted in the recovery of eight parasite types, seven of which were new records for Zambia (Table 1). Life histories. The life histories of both spiruroid and oxyuroid nematodes of lizards and snakes are not well known. However it is common knowledge that oxy- uroid nematodes have a direct life cycle whereas spiruroid nematodes have eggs which pass out with the faeces of the primary host and hatch after they have been swallowed by a suitable insect host. The cycle is completed when the primary host ingests an infected insect. Among anoplocephalid cestodes, such as Oochoristica theileri 0141-6707/79/0900-0177302.00 0 1979 Blackwell Scientific Publications 177

Parasites of Zambian reptiles

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Page 1: Parasites of Zambian reptiles

Afr. J. Ecol., 1979, Volume 17, pages 177-180

Parasites of Zambian reptiles

Introduction Few studies have been made on the ectoparasites and endoparasites of African reptiles. Much of the present knowledge was reviewed by Bedford (1932), Mettrick (1950), Ortlepp (1961), Smyth (1962), Smit (1964) and Colbo (1973). Despite the great interest of herpetologists in reptile parasitology, there is a lack of detailed knowledge on the pathological and physiological effects of parasites on reptiles. This has mainly been a result of inadequate knowledge of the taxonomy and life histories of reptile parasites in general. Hence the object of this study is to document previously un- reported parasites of Zambian reptiles and to summarize briefly the life histories of some metazoan parasites.

Methods During monthly examinations of the reproductive tracts of reptiles for signs of

breeding, the opportunity was taken to collect any ectoparasites and endoparasites present. The host reptiles were collected from Dambwa Forest Reserve 3 km north of Livingstone, Zambia, 17"46'S, 25"51'E, 920-960 m above sea level and Songwe River Gorge in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, middle Zambezi, 16 km south-east of Livingstone, Zambia, 17"58'S, 25'58'E 883-914 m above sea level.

Results Parasites and parasite preparation. Ticks (Ixodidea) recovered from killed reptiles

were carefully detached with forceps and preserved in 70% alcohol : 3% glycerol. Nematodes (Oxyuroidea and Spiruroidea), as well as cestodes (Anoplocephalidea), were extracted from the digestive tract of host reptiles immediately after the death of the host. Samples were washed in 1% saline to remove mucus and other host debris. The nematodes were killed in hot (steaming) alcohol and transferred to storage bottles containing cool 70% methanol : 3% glycerol. Cestodes were placed on glass slides and spread out with a brush whilst an assistant poured a fixative along the worms until they were extended with all segments visible. Thereafter the worms were fixed in 5% formalin. This procedure resulted in the recovery of eight parasite types, seven of which were new records for Zambia (Table 1).

Life histories. The life histories of both spiruroid and oxyuroid nematodes of lizards and snakes are not well known. However it is common knowledge that oxy- uroid nematodes have a direct life cycle whereas spiruroid nematodes have eggs which pass out with the faeces of the primary host and hatch after they have been swallowed by a suitable insect host. The cycle is completed when the primary host ingests an infected insect. Among anoplocephalid cestodes, such as Oochoristica theileri

0141-6707/79/0900-0177302.00 0 1979 Blackwell Scientific Publications

177

Page 2: Parasites of Zambian reptiles

Tab

le 1

. A

list

of

para

site

s an

d th

eir

host

rep

tiles

Hos

t Pa

rasi

te

Typ

e of

par

asite

L

ocat

ion

Loca

lity

Mab

uya

stri

atu

Mab

uya

stri

ata

Mab

uya

stri

ata

Mab

uya

quin

yuet

aeni

ata

Mab

uya

quin

quet

aeni

ata

Mab

uya

quin

yuet

aeni

ata

(Pet

ers)

(Pet

ers)

(Pet

ers)

(Lic

hten

stei

n)

(Lic

hten

stei

n)

(Lic

hten

stei

n)

Ichn

otro

pis s

quam

ulos

a Pe

ters

A

gani

a hi

spid

a (L

inna

eus)

A

gam

a hi

spid

a (L

inna

eus)

G

errh

osau

rus m

. maj

or

Dum

eril

Ger

rhos

auru

s m. m

ajor

- D

umer

il V

aran

us ex

antli

emat

icus

(B

osc)

Py

thon

saba

a (G

mel

in)

Phar

yngo

don

mor

gani

Fi

tzsi

mon

s, 1

961

Thel

andr

os sp

p.

Abb

revi

ata

spp.

Thel

andr

os sp

p.

Phar

yngo

don

mor

gani

Fi

tzsi

mon

s, 1

961

Abb

revi

ata

spp.

Pura

thel

andr

os s

pp.

Skrj

abin

opte

ra w

erze

li H

orch

ner &

Wei

ssen

burg

, 19

65

Ooc

hori

stic

a th

eile

ri

Fuhr

man

n, 1

924

Abb

revi

ata

spp.

Apo

nonr

a la

tum

Phys

alop

tera

spp

.

Uni

dent

ified

par

asite

s

(Koc

h)

Nem

atod

a

Nem

a tod

a

Nem

atod

a

Nem

atod

a

Ner

nato

da

Nem

atod

a

Stom

ach

and

smal

l int

estin

e

Stom

ach

and

smal

l in

test

ine

Stom

ach

Stom

ach

and

smal

l int

estin

e

Stom

ach

and

smal

l in

test

ine

Stom

ach

Nem

atod

a St

omac

h

Nem

atod

a Sm

all i

ntes

tine

Ces

toda

L

arge

inte

stin

e

Nem

atod

a Sm

all

inte

stin

e

Aca

rina

(la

rvae

, ny

mph

, adu

lt)

Nem

atod

a St

omac

h an

d sm

all i

ntes

tine

Asc

arid

ata

and

Ces

toda

Bod

y sc

ales

Stom

ach

and

hind

gut

Song

we

Riv

er G

orge

Dam

bwa

Fore

st R

eser

ve

Dam

bwa

Fore

st R

eser

ve

Song

we

Riv

er G

orge

Song

we

Riv

er G

orge

Song

we

Riv

er G

orge

Dam

bwa

Fore

st R

eser

ve

Dam

bwe

Fore

st R

eser

ve

Dam

bwa

Fore

st R

eser

ve

Song

we

Riv

er G

orge

Song

we

Riv

er G

orge

Dam

bwa

Fore

st R

eser

ve

Dam

bwa

Fore

st R

eser

ve

Page 3: Parasites of Zambian reptiles

Notes and Records 179

Fuhrmann, 1924 from Agama hispida (Linneaus), an insect is essential as the inter- mediate host. Smyth (1962) reported beetles as the intermediate host of the congener Oochoristica ratti.

The results in Table 1, suggest that related species and genera of parasites are restricted to related species and genera of hosts. The recovery of the Oochoristica from skinks is interesting as this tape worm is a member of a family of cestodes which may be of medical importance, for example, Znermicapsifer has occasionally been found to infect children in Africa (Ortlepp, 1961).

Acknowledgments 1 am greatly indebted to Dr L. F. Khalil of the Commonwealth lnstitute of Helminthology, who identified the parasites and offered useful information on parasite fixation and preservation. I. A. Bhutta, National Council for Scientific Research Pest Control Unit Chilanga, Zambia, identified the ticks. My thanks to Dr D. Morgan, University of Zambia for useful suggestions. Miss M. M. Lombe, Livingstone Museum, typed the final draft and Mr A. S. Muyundu provided excellent field and laboratory assistance.

The parasites listed in Table 1 are deposited at the Livingstone Museum and at the Commonwealth lnstitute of Helminthology. This work was made possible by the Museums Board grant to the Division of Herpetology, Department of Natural History.

References BEDFORD, G.A.H. (1932) A synoptic checklist and host-list of the ectoparasites on South African

COLBO, M.H. (1973) Ticks of Zambian wild animals. A preliminary checklist. Puku, 7, 97-105. METTRICK, D.F. (1950) A new cestode of reptiles and amphibians from theRhodesias. Proc. zoo/. soc.

ORTLEPP, R.J. (1961) A record of three cases of human infection in South Africa with a common tape

SMIT, B. (1964) Insects ofSouthern Africa: How to control them. Oxford University Press, London. SMYTH, J.D. (1962) introduction to animalparasitology. English University Press, London.

Mammals, Aves and Reptiles. Rep. Vet. Res. South Africa, 18, 223-523.

London, 141, 239-250.

worm of rats. S. A. med. J . 35, 837-838.

M . P. Simbotwe, The Livingstone Museum, P.O. Box 498, Livingstone, Zambia.

(Manuscript received 24 February 1979)

Page 4: Parasites of Zambian reptiles