Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of the Ground Skink,Scincella lateralis(Sauria: Scincidae), from Arkansas and Oklahoma, U.S.A

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Seventy-five ground skinks, Scincella lateralis from 13 counties in Arkansas (n = 55) and McCurtain County, Oklahoma (n = 20) were collected and examined for helminth and arthropod parasites. Thirty-nine (52%) harbored 1 or more helminth or ectoparasite, including 3 (4%) with the trematode Brachycoelium salamandrae, 2 (3%) with the cestode Oochoristica eumecis, 2 (3%) with acuariid nematode larvae, 15 (20%) with the nematode Oswaldocruzia pipiens, 26 (35%) with the spirurid nematode Physaloptera squamatae, and 2 (3%) with ticks, Ixodes scapularis. Eleven (15%) were concurrently infected with P. squamatae and O. pipiens; O. eumecis and O. pipiens; B. salamandrae and larval acuariids; B. salamandrae and P. squamatae or O. pipiens; or I. scapularis and O. pipiens and/or P. squamatae. We document new host records for O. eumecis and acuariid larvae, and new distributional records are reported for O. eumecis, acuariid larvae, and P. squamatae. In addition, a summary of the helminth and arthropod p...