Nematodes of Amphisbaena vermicularis Wagler, 1824 (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) from Brazilian Atlantic Forest remnants

Abstract

ABSTRACT Knowledge about parasitic fauna provides valuable information on natural history, health, and conservation of the hosts. In this study, we present the parasitological descriptors (prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of infection) of the nematodes of Amphisbaena vermicularis, a poorly studied amphisbaenian. We analysed 33 adult specimens (22 males and 11 females) from three Atlantic Forest remnants in the Northeast region of Brazil, characterised by a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance. We recovered 244 nematodes in the intestines of 17 (51.5%) animals: 225 Maracaya graciai (Atractidae) prevalence 42.4%, mean abundance 6.81 ± 3.16, mean intensity 16 ± 6.81 (range 1–100), and 19 Aplectana sp. (Cosmocercidae) prevalence 9.1%, mean abundance of infection 0.57 ± 0.37, mean intensity of infection 6 ± 2.60 (range 2–11). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean intensity of M. graciai infection in relation to the study areas and the sex of the animals. Maracaya graciai was found in all study sites regardless of the level of anthropogenic disturbance, while Aplectana sp. was present only in the most conserved forest remnant or with mid-level disturbance, with higher parasitological indices in the conserved remnant. Therefore, further studies should be carried out to verify the usefulness of Aplectana sp. as an indicator of environmental health and anthropogenic impact. The current study records a new host of M. graciai and Aplectana sp. and also extends the geographical distribution of M. graciai.