Helminths of reptiles from Southern Uzbekistan

E. B. Shakarboev; S. N. Turgunov; U. J. Тоshоv; A. S. Berdibaev; O. A. Abduganiyev; I. I. Pirnazarov

doi:10.15421/012557

E. B. Shakarboev *Institute of Zoology
S. N. Turgunov Andijan Institute of Agriculture and Agrotechnologies
U. J. Тоshоv *Karshi State University
A. S. Berdibaev Nukus State Pedagogical Institute
O. A. Abduganiyev *Yangiyer branch of Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology
I. I. Pirnazarov Jizzakh Polytechnic Institute

Keywords: parasites, helminths, Trematoda, Cestoda, Acanthocephala, nematoda reptiles, Cryptodirae, Lacertilia, Serpentes, Uzbekistan.

Abstract

In the present study, the results of research on endoparasites of reptiles in S outhern Uzbekistan are di s cussed. As a result of the investigations, 37 species of helminths belonging to 3 phyla, 4 classes, 8 orders, 17 families, and 27 genera were recorded in the reptiles. Among them, 26 species were found in the adult stage, while 10 species occurred in the larval stage. The nematode of the genus Pseudabbreviata sp. could not be identified to the species level. Out of 366 examined reptile specimens, 86 individuals (23.5%) were found to be infected with helminths. It was revealed that the class Trematoda was represented by 5 species (13.5%), Cestoda by 6 species (16.2%), Acanthocephala by 1 species (2.7%), and Nematoda by 25 species (67.6%). The number of helminth species in different reptile hosts ranged 1 to 11, with the highest species diversity recorded in the dice snake ( Natrix tessellata ). The occurrence of helminths varied among different reptile suborders. In the representatives of the suborder Cryptodira, 2 nematode species ( Atractis dactyluris and Atractis emilii ) were recorded, which are considered specific parasites of tortoises. In the suborder Lacertilia, 24 helminth species were found, 75.0% of which belonged to the class Nematoda. In the suborder Serpentes, 16 helminth species were identified, of which 50% were nematodes. The species Telorchis assula , Macrod e ra longicollis , Oochoristica fedtschenoi , Rhabdias fuscovenosus , Strongyloides mirzai , Polydelphis attenu a ta , Amplicaecum schikhobalovi , and Pharyngodon mamillatus were recorded as specific parasites of snakes. Based on the life cycle characteristics, it was determined that out of the 37 helminth species recorded, 24 species (64.8%) we re heteroxenous, while 13 species (35.1%) we re monoxenous. These findings expand the knowledge of reptilian helminth biodiversity in Uzbekistan and highlight their importance in epizootology and parasite transmission.

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