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First record of Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum through the non-invasive sampling of Anguis fragilis: complementary morphological and molecular detection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2011

R. Jones ,
D.S. Brown ,
E. Harris ,
J. Jones ,
W.O.C. Symondson ,
M.W. Bruford  and
J. Cable
R. Jones
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
D.S. Brown
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
E. Harris
Affiliation:
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, LondonSW7 5BD, UK
J. Jones
Affiliation:
Capita Symonds, Tŷ Gwent, Lake View, Llantarnam Park, CwmbranNP44 3HR, UK
W.O.C. Symondson
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
M.W. Bruford
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
J. Cable*
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
*
*Fax: +44(0)029 20874116 E-mail: cablej@cardiff.ac.uk
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Abstract

Relatively few studies have examined the parasite fauna of British reptiles, partly due to the cryptic nature and low population density of these hosts. Here we examined 12 populations of the slow worm Anguis fragilis which, unlike other UK lizards, occurs at locally high population densities. Morphological examination of non-invasively collected faecal samples revealed the presence of Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum and a second unidentified nematode species. Although previously unrecorded from slow worms in the UK, N. brevicaudatum was present in 38% of animals (mean intensity 70.9, range 1–686). Morphological identification was confirmed by sequencing the 18S ribosomal gene. The use of the species-specific, cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene primers proved an efficient alternative to conventional, microscope screening for parasites, although the original identification of N. brevicaudatum was dependent upon morphological characters. Sequencing also identified the second, smaller nematode as belonging to the Rhabdiasidae family: this species was even more common at a prevalence of 83% (mean intensity 102.8, range 1–2000). While increasing our knowledge of the UK macroparasite fauna, this work demonstrates the benefits of a combined morphological–molecular approach.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 86 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 125 - 129
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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