Parasitological findings in the invasive California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) in Gran Canaria, Spain.

Kevin M Santana-Hernández,Eligia Rodríguez-Ponce,Catalina Monzón-Argüello,Simon L Priestnall,Jorge Orós

doi:10.1017/s0031182021000871

Kevin M Santana-Hernández, Eligia Rodríguez-Ponce + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182021000871

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Abstract

The California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae), native to North America, is a significant threat to the conservation of endemic species in the Spanish Macaronesian island of Gran Canaria. However, its role disseminating potential invasive parasites, such as zoonotic pentastomids, has not been proven. Among its parasitic fauna, only protistans have been documented, in contrast to other Lampropeltis spp., which are known to carry pentastomids. Thus, a parasitological study is urgently required. Between 2016 and 2018, a total of 108 snakes were necropsied and stool samples examined. A single snake was infested with Ophionyssus natricis, and another individual with Serpentirhabdias sp. Only this latter snake presented gross lesions, characterized by granulomatous pneumonia. No Pentastomida were found. By contrast, almost the entire population (98.5%) was infested with larval helminths (three different nematode and two cestode species), characterized by granulomatous gastrointestinal serositis. This suggests the snake poses a ‘dead end’ host for local parasites. Based on these findings, snakes in Gran Canaria carry potential zoonotic mites, which along with Serpentirhabdias sp. could represent a threat to endemic lizards. The presence of metazoan parasites and their lesions are reported for the first time in the California kingsnake.

Highlights

Gran Canaria is an Atlantic island of the Canarian archipelago (27°57′31′′N, 15°35′33′′W), which belongs to Spanish Macaronesia
The introduction of foreign species poses one of the main threats to global biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and its effects are magnified on islands due to ecosystem isolation and high numbers of endemic species or subspecies (Carroll, 2007; Bezerra-Santos et al, 2021). This effect has been observed on Gran Canaria where the introduced California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) has resulted in a decrease in numbers of the endemic and endangered Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini) in the areas where the snakes have been established the longest – a problem that seems to be getting worse (Gallo-Barneto et al, 2016)
On Gran Canaria, the California kingsnake is located in three distinct nuclei (Fig. 1); the main nucleus (MN), characterized by a wetland area with abundant flora and fauna in the center-east of the island; the secondary nucleus (SN), a very dry and steep location with characteristic Tabaibal-Cardonal flora, in the northwest, and the tertiary nucleus (TN), with similar climatic conditions to the secondary, in the south

Summary

Introduction

Gran Canaria is an Atlantic island of the Canarian archipelago (27°57′31′′N, 15°35′33′′W), which belongs to Spanish Macaronesia. The introduction of foreign species poses one of the main threats to global biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and its effects are magnified on islands due to ecosystem isolation and high numbers of endemic species or subspecies (Carroll, 2007; Bezerra-Santos et al, 2021) This effect has been observed on Gran Canaria where the introduced California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) has resulted in a decrease in numbers of the endemic and endangered Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini) in the areas where the snakes have been established the longest – a problem that seems to be getting worse (Gallo-Barneto et al, 2016). The snake’s natural diet is wide and includes lizards, geckoes, small turtles and birds, other snakes, skinks and rats among others This species of snake is generally harmless to humans and has become popular as a pet (Hubbs, 2009). The general lack of natural predators, a diet based on at least three endemic reptiles; Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini), Boettger’s wall gecko (Tarentola boettgeri boettgeri) and Gran Canaria skink (Chalcides sexlineatus) and rats, together with its burrowing habits, have firmly established this species as a significant ecological problem (Monzón-Argüello et al, 2015)

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