Parasites of panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) grown in captivity and brought from the wild

Abstract

Reptile parasites imported from the wild differ from those grown in captivity. Thus, captive-grown reptiles tolerate the process of disadaptation better than imported wild animals, even under proper conditions of keeping and feeding. It should be noted that determining the origin of reptiles is sometimes difficult or impossible. For this, special methods are needed. In this regard, the purpose of research was to confirm or refute the theory, in reptiles from different places of residence, various parasites are found. We studied panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) imported from the wild and raised in captivity. To determine the parasites in the laboratory, methods of native smear, sequential washing and flotation were used. 10 species of intestinal parasites were found in panther chameleons imported from the wild, in particular Trematoda gen. sp. 1, Tremaitoda gen. sp. 2, Cestoda gen. sp., Spinicauda freitasi (Olfers, 1919), Hexametra angusticaecoides (Chabaud et Brygoo, 1960), Pharyngodonidae gen. sp., spirurates of the genus Thubunaea sp., larvae of the family Rhabdiasidae gen. sp., flagellates from the series Kinetoplastida gen. sp. and Eimeria sp, with prevalence 87.56%. In panther chameleons grown in captivity only Pharyngodonidae gen. sp. was found, prevalence was 94.05%. It is noted that under appropriate conditions of keeping and feeding in captive panther chameleons, a small number of parasites with a direct development cycle and their insignificant toxic effect on the body can develop