Helminth parasites of the Grass Snake, Natrix natrix, and the Dice Snake, Natrix tessellata (Serpentes: Colubridae), from Turkey

Abstract

Twenty-one grass snakes, Natrix natrix, and 24 dice snakes, Natrix tessellata, from Turkey were examined for helminths. Natrix natrix harbored 5 species of Digenea: Astiotrema monticelli, Encyclometra colubrimurorum, Macrodera longicollis, Paralepoderma cloacicola, and Telorchis assula; 2 species of Cestoda: Ophiotaenia europaea and Spirometra erinaceieuropae; and 2 species of Nematoda: Rhabdias fuscovenosa and larvae of Eustrongylides excisus. Natrix tessellata snakes harbored 1 species of Digenea, Telorchis assula; 1 species of Cestoda, Ophiotaenia europaea; and 2 species of Nematoda, Rhabdias fuscovenosa and larvae of Eustrongylides excisus. Turkey is a new locality record for A. monticelli, P. cloacicola, T. assula, O. europaea, S. erinaceieuropae, larvae of E. excisus and R. fuscovenosa.