Gastrointestinal Helminths of Four Lizard Species (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae and Teiidae) from Mixteca Region, Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Sixty-eight lizards representing 4 species (Aspidoscelis mexicanus, Sceloporus horridus, Sceloporus ochoterenae, and Urosaurus bicarinatus) collected from the locality of Santiago Tamazola in the Mixteca Region of Oaxaca, Mexico were examined for gastrointestinal helminths. One species of Cestoda, Mesocestoides sp. (tetrathyridium larvae), and 2 species of Nematoda, Physaloptera retusa and Spauligodon garciaprietoi were found. Physaloptera retusa had the highest prevalence (85%) in S. horridus and was found parasitizing all 4 lizard species, and S. garciaprietoi had the most numerous helminth (n = 626) in A. mexicanus. The helminths are generalist and have indirect life cycles with the exception of S. garciaprietoi. We provided new host and distribution records for the 3 helminth species (Mesocestoides sp., P. retusa, and S. garciaprietoi) and present the first helminth reports for S. horridus, S. ochoterenae, and U. bicarinatus. Further, Mesocestoides sp. tetrathyridia is reported for the first time in Oaxaca State. This work contributes to the helminth fauna associated with lizards from Mexico.