Nematodes infecting Anotosaura vanzolinia (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Caatinga, northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The present study investigated the composition of helminth parasites of the completely unknown lizard Anotosaura vanzolinia (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) and evaluated the effects of sex, host size, and seasonality on endoparasite abundance in two areas of Caatinga, northeast Brazil. We collected 110 lizards between May 2013 to June 2014 and found 173 nematodes (overall prevalence: 16.3%), with 49 nematodes infecting seven adult males (prevalence: 25%), 84 nematodes infecting six adult females (Prevalence: 23%), and 40 nematodes infecting five juveniles (prevalence: 8.9%), where one nematode was in the lungs and 172 were in the gastrointestinal tracts. We identified all nematodes as Oswaldocruzia brasiliensis, representing a new record for the host and for Gymnophthalmidade, showing overall intensity of infection ± SD of 9.6 ± 5.2. Furthermore, abundance of endoparasites was related to the rainy season and sex, but not to host body size (SVL).