The effects of haemogregarine-like parasites on brown tree snakes ( Boiga irregularis) and slatey-grey snakes ( Stegonotus cucullatus) in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

We described the effects of haemogregarine-like parasites on the blood chemistry and health of brown tree snakes ( Boiga irregularis) and slatey-grey snakes ( Stegonotus cucullatus) to evaluate the potential for these parasites to be used as a form of biological wildlife control for introduced brown tree snakes on Guam. We quantified the level of parasitic infection and found no significant correlation between parasitic infection and blood chemistry ( P-values ranged from 0.94 to 0.13) or snake condition ( P=0.65 and 0.40 in brown tree snakes and slatey-grey snakes, respectively). These findings indicate that haemogregarines may not be a good candidate to control brown tree snakes. However, parasitic infection in our specimens was low (<10%) and higher infection rates may yield significant effect on the health of these snakes. Further research should be conducted on the effects of haemogregarines to host species, the life histories of these parasites, and the potential negative effects to other fauna before blood parasites are employed as a viable biological control technique.