Factors affecting helminths community structure of the Egyptian lizardChalcides ocellatus(Forskal, 1775)

Abstract

Summary :The variation in the component community structure of intestinal helminths in the lizard Chalcides ocellatus (Forskal, 1775) was studied in relation to the seasonal variation and host weight and sex. 120 lizards were collected seasonally during year 2004, from Al Firdan, Ismailia governorate, Egypt. The helminths community consisted of six species (five nematodes and one cestode). The various helminths differed according to host sex. The prevalence of total helminths infection was 67.6 % while the prevalences of Thelandros schusteri, Pharyngodon mamillatus, Parapharyngodon bulbosus, Cosmocerca vrcibradici, Spauligodon petersi and Oochoristica maccoyi were 43.4 %, 3.9 %, 13.2 %, 5.3 %, 6.6 %, and 14.3 %, respectively. The results showed that the season was the main factor affecting infracommunity species richness and parasite abundance. Moreover, there was interaction between season and host sex on abundance of P. bulbosus. The prevalence of intestinal helminths varied significantly in relation to host weight classes and sex in some species. Helminths abundance and intensity were independent from host sex. In addition, correlations were found between total helminths abundance and host weight. In conclusion, the helminths community of C. ocellatus was depauperate and the influence of the studied factors varied from species to another one. We cannot say if the low species richness and infection rates observed in the present study are typical of the host species or if they are due to characteristics of the study area, since no available data on parasite assemblages exist for other C. ocellatus populations. Résumé

Helminth Parasites of the Ocellated Skink,Chalcides ocellatus(Forskal, 1775) (Scincidae) from Turkey

“…Other reports: Morocco cylindrical skink, Chalcides mionection (Baker, 1987); Chalcides ocellatus (Moravec et al, 1987;Elwasila, 1990;Ashour et al, 1994;Al-Deen et al, 1995;Ibrahim and Soliman, 2005); La. stellio (Ghobashy, 2006); Aegean wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii (Roca et al, 2009); Po.…”

“…Although reports of helminths from C. ocellatus are available (Parona, 1887(Parona, , 1900Lühe, 1898;Barbagallo, 1901;Mingazzini, 1904;Seurat, 1917;Joyeux, 1923;Della Santa, 1956;Belle, 1957;Moravec et al, 1987;Elwasila, 1990;Ashour et al, 1992Ashour et al, , 1994Al-Deen et al, 1995;Al-Deen and Al-Shareef, 1996;Ibrahim and Soliman, 2005;Cano et al, 2006;Schuster, 2011), this is, to our knowledge, the first report of helminths from C. ocellatus collected in Turkey.…”

Associations between reproductive cycle and occurrence of intestinal helminths infecting the Egyptian lizard, Chalcides ocellatus

“…The relationship between the host sex and occurrence of intestinal nematodes of the Egyptian lizard was described as a debate issue (Ibrahim & Soliman 2005). In this study, difference between total prevalence of infection in male and female lizards was small while the intensity of infection was the highest in female lizards in the studied seasons.…”

“…The variation in the structure of intestinal helminths community of the Egyptian lizard, C. ocellatus (One of the most abundant and widespread reptile species in Africa and Egypt) in relation to seasonal variation , host weight and sex was previously studied (Ibrahim & Soliman 2005). Unfortunately, the possible affect of the host reproductive cycle on the dynamics of infection with such community was not considered.…”

Diversity of the helminth community of the Pampean grassland mouse (Akodon azarae) on poultry farms in central Argentina

“…Understanding general patterns of animal communities is one of the main aims in ecological research (Morton et al , 1996). At the parasitological level, it has been observed that the helminth community in the same host population can vary seasonally, resulting in diversity changes (Boggs et al , 1990; Ibrahim & Soliman, 2005). These seasonal changes may occur due to extrinsic factors (environmental factors) that affect the survival of free-living parasitic stages, or the density, diet or susceptibility of both intermediate and definitive hosts (Healey & Grundmann, 1974; Roepstorff & Murrell, 1997; Torres et al , 2006; Cornell et al , 2008).…”