ACANTHOCEPHALAN (NEOECHINORHYNCHUS EMYDIS) INFECTIONS IN TEXAS MAP TURTLES (GRAPTEMYS VERSA)

Abstract

Abstract We studied infection of Texas map turtles (Graptemys versa) by the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus emydis using colon contents, stomach contents, and feces. Infection rates were higher in female than male turtles in 1949 in both prevalence of infection and mean number of worms per infected host. Based on detection of eggs in feces, infection rate has likely decreased recently. Given an analysis of prey remains from turtles in 1949 and 1998–1999, results are consistent with transmission of the parasite via accidental ingestion of its intermediate hosts, ostracods, during grazing by turtles on large, sessile aquatic organisms, rather than via snail paratenic hosts, as previously suggested. Resumen Estudiamos la infeccion en la tortuga mapa de Texas (Graptemys versa) por el acantocefalo Neoechinorhynchus emydis utilizando los contenidos del colon, estomago, y fecas. Las tasas de infeccion fueron mas altas en tortugas hembras que en machos en 1949 tanto en prevalencia de infeccion como en el numero...