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The occurrence of the strongylid nematodes Kalicephalus brachycephalus, K. bungari and K. indicus in snake species from Hunan Province, China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2016

W. Liu ,
T. Wang ,
T.B. Liu ,
L. Tan ,
C.C. Lv  and
Y. Liu
W. Liu
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, 410128 Changsha, Hunan Province, P.R. China
T. Wang
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, 410128 Changsha, Hunan Province, P.R. China Changsha Best Biological Technology Institute, 410600 Changsha, Hunan Province, P.R. China
T.B. Liu
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, 410128 Changsha, Hunan Province, P.R. China
L. Tan
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, 410128 Changsha, Hunan Province, P.R. China
C.C. Lv
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, 410128 Changsha, Hunan Province, P.R. China
Y. Liu*
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, 410128 Changsha, Hunan Province, P.R. China
*
*Fax: +86 731 84673618. E-mail: yiliupro@163.com
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Abstract

Kalicephalus is a genus of strongylid nematodes infecting snakes and causing serious diseases and even death when it is complicated with secondary bacterial infections. The infection of snakes with Kalicephalus has been reported in many countries in the world. However, little information is available on the prevalence of Kalicephalus in snakes in China. In the present study, the prevalence of Kalicephalus in snakes was investigated. The worms were examined, counted and identified to species according to existing keys and descriptions. Three species of Kalicephalus, namely K. indicus, K. bungari and K. brachycephalus, were found in six species of snakes (Elaphe carinata, Zaocys dhumnade, Naja najaatra, Elaphe taeniura, Bungarus multicinctus and Dinodon rufozonatum). The total prevalence of Kalicephalus in snakes in Hunan Province was 39.7%. The most common species was K. indicus, with the highest prevalence 72.8%, followed by K. bungari (24.0%). The prevalence of K. brachycephalus was 0.9%. This is the first report on the prevalence of Kalicephalus species in snakes in China, and the findings have important implications for the control of Kalicephalus infections in snakes in China.

Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 91 , Issue 3 , May 2017 , pp. 384 - 386
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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Footnotes

†

W. Liu and T. Wang contributed equally to this work.

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