Abstract
ABSTRACT: Forty-two individual amphibians and 37 reptiles from Arkansas, U.S.A., were examined for tetrathyridia of the cyclophyllidean cestode genus, Mesocestoides. The following herpetofauna were found to be infected with encapsulated or free tetrathyridia of this tapeworm, 1 of 25 (4%) spotted salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum; 1 of 17 (6%) western slimy salamanders, Plethodon albagula; 1 of 21 (5%) 5-lined skinks, Plestiodon fasciatus; 1 of 5 (20%) black racers, Coluber constrictor priapus; 1 of 10 (10%), western rat snakes, Pantherophis obsoletus; and 1 of 1 (100%) eastern garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. We report 6 new host records for Mesocestoides sp., including the fifth and sixth report of this parasite from caudate amphibians of the world. This is also only the second time this tapeworm has been reported from snakes of the genus Thamnophis.
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