Helminth communities of the exotic introduced turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans in southwestern Spain: Transmission from native turtles

We report the prevalence and diversity of helminth parasites found in native turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis from three localities in southwestern Spain and we describe the helminth communities of exotic turtles Trachemys scripta elegans coexisting in the wild with both native turtle s...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Hidalgo-Vila, J., Díaz-Paniagua, C., Ribas Salvador, Alexis, Florencio, M., Pérez-Santigosa, N., Casanova García, Juan Carlos
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2009
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/127857
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/127857
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Parasitologia
Zoologia
Ecologia
Helmints
Tortugues
Parasitology
Zoology
Ecology
Helminths
Turtles
Descripción
Sumario:We report the prevalence and diversity of helminth parasites found in native turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis from three localities in southwestern Spain and we describe the helminth communities of exotic turtles Trachemys scripta elegans coexisting in the wild with both native turtle species. Five nematodes species were identified, of which Serpinema microcephalus was the only species common between two localities, although infection parameters were different between them. This is the first report of cross transmission of S. microcephalus and Falcaustra donanaensis from native to exotic turtles and the first report of genus Physaloptera in turtles of the Palearctic Region. Continuous releasing of exotic pet turtles in wildlife ecosystems increases the risk of parasite introductions and, consequently, potential transmission to native species, and highlights the impending need for regulation of pet turtle trade in Europe.