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Helminth parasites of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) from southern Indiana, USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2011

P. Moraga ,
J.M. Kinsella  and
M.S. Sepúlveda
P. Moraga
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907, USA
J.M. Kinsella
Affiliation:
Helm West Lab, 2108 Hilda Avenue, Missoula, MT59801, USA
M.S. Sepúlveda*
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907, USA
*
*Fax: +1 (765) 496 2422 E-mail: mssepulv@purdue.edu
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Abstract

Very little is known about parasitic diseases of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). The objective of this study was to examine the parasitic fauna of eastern box turtles collected from southern Indiana, USA. Turtles (n = 40) were salvaged mostly as road kills from southern Indiana between May and October 2009. Seven species of helminths in total were found parasitizing the gastrointestinal tract, including two digenean trematodes (Brachycoelium salamandrae and Telorchis robustus) and five nematodes (Oswaldocruzia pipiens, Cosmocercoides dukae, Falcaustra affinis, F. chelydrae and Serpinema trispinosus). We report prevalence, abundance and mean intensity of infection for all helminths. Helminths were not found in any other organs examined (heart, gonads, liver, heart, kidney and urinary bladder) and no ectoparasites were found. Overall, mean intensity of infections was low (1–14 parasites/host), suggesting that these parasites are unlikely to be associated with negative health impacts. This constitutes the first study of this kind for Indiana.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 86 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 38 - 40
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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