Abstract
Two house gecko species, the Asian house gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus (Schlegel, 1836) and the four-clawed gecko, Gehyra mutilate (Wiegmann, 1834) inhabiting urban areas in Kandy and Kegalle districts were examined to determine the types of ecto and endo parasites, their prevalence and intensity of infections. A total of 45 geckos from the two species were dissected after anesthetizing of which 21 individuals (47%) were infected with one or more parasites. Both host species were infected by helminthes such as the nematodes and a fluke species. In addition mites ( Geckobia sp .) and an acanthocephalan ( Acanthocephalus serendibensis ), and ciliates were found only in H. frenatus . Although the two gecko species co-occur, some parasites show host specificity. Nematode infections (possibly Oxyuris infection) were the most common type with 29% prevalence. Although A. serendibensis has been previously described from an agamid, Ceratophora stoddarti , and two geckonids Cnemaspis kandiana and Cnemaspis tropidogaster from Sri Lanka, H . frenatus presents a new host record for A . serendibensis and occurred at high intensity of 5-10 worms per host. There were no parasites in the blood or body cavity of the geckos examined. More female geckos were infected with parasites than males (χ2=5.20, p frenatus harboured parasites of all five groups while G. mutilate had only two groups, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of infections between the two species (χ2=1.16, p>0.05). None of the identified parasite species have a zoonotic potential. Ving. Journal of Science 2012, Vol. 11, No. 1, 32-38
Highlights
Twenty species of geckos (Family: Gekkonidae) have been recorded in Sri Lanka (de Silva, 2001) and those found in human dwellings are called “house geckos”
In this study we aim to identify the parasites found in two house gecko species, the Asian house gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus and the four
The parasitic fauna found in the two species consisted of five broad groups namely one ectoparasitic mite and endo parasites such as nematodes, flukes, acanthocephalans and ciliates (Table 1)
Summary
Twenty species of geckos (Family: Gekkonidae) have been recorded in Sri Lanka (de Silva, 2001) and those found in human dwellings are called “house geckos”. In this study we aim to identify the parasites found in two house gecko species, the Asian house gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus and the four-. Parasites of two co-occurring house gecko species. Clawed gecko, Gehyra mutilate and to determine prevalence and intensity of infections. Hemidactylus frenatushas a worldwide subtropical-tropical distribution and a patchy occurrence outside Asia (Goldberg et al, 1998). There is some evidence that H. frenatus can compete and perhaps replace locally native gecko species, especially in urban areas. It is very adaptable and prey on insects and spiders.
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