The Helminth Community of The Bosk’s Fringe-Fingered Lizard Acanthodactylus Boskianus (Daudin, 1802) (Squamata, Lacertidae) From Southeastern Türkiye

Abstract

No helminths had previously been reported from populations of Acanthodactylus boskianus distributed in Türkiye. As a result of the study, only one individual out of the seven hosts evaluated was found to be infected. Detailed morphological examinations revealed a total of 11 helminth individuals. The findings suggest that the infection intensity is at a low level. The helminths identified belong to the Nematoda phylum and are of the species Spauligodon aloisei, Skrjabinodon alcaraziensis, and Skrjabinodon medinae. In helminth fauna studies conducted on Lacertid lizards, it has been reported that species belonging to the genera Spauligodon and Skrjabinodon are frequently found together; the findings of this study also support this situation. The results obtained are crucial in terms of revealing the first helminth species reported from the species A. boskianus.

Keywords

• Parasite
• Helminth
• Nematoda
• Lizard
• Acanthodactylus boskianus
• Türkiye

References

1. Timi, J.T., Poulin, R., Why ignoring parasites in fish ecology is a mistake. International Journal for Parasitology, 50 (2020), 755–761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.04.007
2. Wood, C.L., Johnson, P.T., A world without parasites: exploring the hidden ecology of infection. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 13 (2015), 425–434. https://doi.org/10.1890/140368
3. Lloyd-Smith, J.O., Vacated niches, competitive release and the community ecology of pathogen eradication. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 368 (2013), 20120150. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0150
4. Sures, B., Díaz-Morales, D.M., Yong, R.Q., Erasmus, A., Schwelm, J., Biology and life cycle of helminths. In: Aquatic Parasitology: Ecological and Environmental Concepts and Implications of Marine and Freshwater Parasites. Springer, Cham, (2025), 89–123. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-83903-0_5
5. Wolf, D., Vrhovec, M.G., Failing, K., Rossier, C., Hermosilla, C., Pantchev, N., Diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites in reptiles: comparison of two coprological methods. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 56 (2014), 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-014-0044-4
6. Garner, M.M., Jacobson, E.R., Noninfectious Diseases and Pathology of Reptiles: Color Atlas and Text, Diseases and Pathology of Reptiles. CRC Press: Boca Raton, 2020.
7. Baran, İ., Avcı, A., Kumlutaş, Y., Olgun, K., Ilgaz, Ç., Turkey’s Amphibians and Reptiles. Palme Publishing: Ankara, Türkiye, 2021.
8. Yaşar, Ç., Çiçek, K., Mulder, J., Tok, C.V., The distribution and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles in Turkey. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 17 (2021), 232–275.

9. Kurnaz, M., Species list of Amphibians and Reptiles from Turkey. Journal of Animal Diversity, 2 (4) (2020), 10–32.
10. Birlik, S., Türkiye’de yayılış gösteren Darevskia Arribas, 1997 (Reptilia: Sauria: Lacertidae) cinsine ait bazı kertenkele türleri helmint faunasının morfolojik taksonomisi ve DNA sekans analizi. PhD Thesis, Bursa Uludağ University, Bursa, Türkiye, 2022.
11. Yıldırımhan, H.S., Sümer, N., Studies on gastrointestinal helminth of three lacertid lizard species, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis siculus and Ophisops elegans (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Bursa, North-Western Turkey. Helminthologia, 56 (2019), 310–318. https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2019-0030
12. McSorley, R., Adaptations of nematodes to environmental extremes. Florida Entomologist, 86 (2003), 138–142. https://doi.org/10.1653/0015-4040(2003)086[0138:AONTEE]2.0.CO;2
13. Schratzberger, M., Holterman, M., van Oevelen, D., Helder, J., A worm’s world: Ecological flexibility pays off for free-living nematodes in sediments and soils. BioScience, 69 (2019), 867–876. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz086
14. Tamar, K., Carranza, S., Sindaco, R., Moravec, J., Trape, J.F., Meiri, S., Out of Africa: Phylogeny and biogeography of the widespread genus Acanthodactylus (Reptilia: Lacertidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 103 (2016), 6–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.07.003
15. Mouane, A., Ayati, H., Korichi, R., Mesbahi, K., Diet analysis of Acanthodactylus scutellatus (Audouin, 1809) (Lacertidae) in the Algerian septentrional Sahara (Oued Souf). Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 5 (2017), 302–305.
16. Anlaş, S., Kumlutaş, Y., Candan, K., Yıldırım Caynak, E., Tembelo, A., Ilgaz, Ç., Studies on the diet analysis of Acanthodactylus boskianus (Daudin, 1802) (Squamata: Lacertidae) in Türkiye. Munis Entomology & Zoology, 19 (2024), 2.
17. Elmahy, R., Harras, S., Gastrointestinal helminths of lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) from Egypt. Parasitologists United Journal, 12 (2019), 139–146. https://doi.org/10.21608/puj.2019.13809.1048
18. Petter, A.J., Quentin, J.C., CIH Keys to the Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates: No. 4. Keys to Genera of the Oxyuroidea. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham Royal: UK, 1976.
19. Yamaguti, S., Systema Helminthum, Volume III. The Nematodes of Vertebrates. Interscience Publishers: New York, 1961.
20. Specian, R.D., Ubelaker, J.E., Two new species of Pharyngodon Diesing, 1861 (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from lizards in west Texas. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 41 (1974), 227–232.
21. Baker, M.R., Synopsis of the Nematoda Parasitic in Amphibians and Reptiles. Memorial University of Newfoundland, Occasional Papers in Biology No. 11, St. John’s, Canada, 1987.
22. Lafuente, M., Roca, V., Description of Skrjabinodon alcaraziensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae), a parasite of Algyroides marchi (Sauria: Lacertidae). Folia Parasitologica, 42 (1995), 130–134.
23. Casanova, J.C., Milazzo, C., Ribas, A., Cagnin, M., Spauligodon aloisei n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) parasite of Podarcis sicula (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Italy. Journal of Parasitology, 89 (2003), 577–579. https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2003)089[0577:SANSNP]2.0.CO;2
24. Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H.S., Kumlutaş, Y., Candan, K., Ilgaz, Ç., The first helminth study on Brandt’s Persian Lizard Iranolacerta brandtii (De Filippi, 1863) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Van Province, Turkey. Helminthologia, 54 (2017), 174–178. https://doi.org/10.1515/helm-2017-0021
25. Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H. S., Ilgaz, Ç., Kumlutaş, Y., Helminth fauna of spiny tailed lizard, Darevskia rudis (Bedriaga, 1886) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Turkey. Helminthologia, 55 (2018), 45–49. https://doi.org/10.1515/helm-2017-0057
26. Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H.S., Ilgaz, Ç., Kumlutaş, Y., Helminth fauna of Valentin’s Lizard Darevskia valentini (Boettger, 1892) (Squamata: Lacertidae) collected from central and eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Helminthologia, 55 (2018), 134–139. https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2018-0005
27. Sümer, N., Yıldırımhan, H.S., Bursey, C.R., Birlik, S., Kumlutaş, Y., Ilgaz, Ç., Caynak, E.Y., Helminth parasites of Anatololacerta anatolica (Werner, 1902) from western provinces (Aydın, Bursa, Çanakkale, İzmir) of Türkiye. Comparative Parasitology, 90 (2023), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1654/1525-2647-90.1.45
28. Hastürk, E.B., Birlik, S., Ilgaz, Ç., Korkmaz, A.G., Candan, K., Caynak, E.Y., Kumlutaş, Y., Helminth fauna of Anatolian Rock Lizard Anatololacerta anatolica (Werner, 1902) from western Anatolia, Türkiye. Biology Bulletin, 52 (2025), 122–130. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359025600382
29. Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H.S., Sümer, N., Hastürk, E.B., Kumlutaş, Y., Ilgaz, Ç., Caynak, E.Y., Helminth fauna of Anatololacerta pelasgiana (Mertens, 1959) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from several localities of south-west part of Türkiye. Helminthologia, 61 (2024), 360–367. https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2024-0035
30. Yıldırımhan, H.S., Sümer, N., Akman, B., Yıldız, M.Z., Kamran, M.A., Yalçınkaya, D., Bursey, C.R., Endoparasites of the Bridled Mabuya, Heremites vittatus (Olivier, 1804) (Squamata: Scincidae) from Türkiye. Comparative Parasitology, 92 (2025), 48–51. https://doi.org/10.1654/COPA-D-23-00003
31. Bursey, C.R., Goldberg, S.R., Spauligodon ovifilus n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) and other helminths from Diplodactylus stenodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Australia. Journal of Parasitology, 85 (1999), 898–902. https://doi.org/10.2307/3285829
32. Bursey, C.R., Goldberg, S.R., Kraus, F., New species of Spauligodon (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) in Lepidodactylus novaeguineae (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea. Journal of Parasitology, 91 (2005), 324–328. https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-3410
33. Pereira, F.B., Luque, J.L., Tavares, L.E.R., Leon-Regagnon, V., Integrative approach on Pharyngodonidae (Nematoda: Oxyuroidea) parasitic in reptiles: Relationship among its genera, importance of their diagnostic features, and new data on Parapharyngodon bainae. PLoS One, 13 (2018), e0200494. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200494
34. Ramallo, G., Bursey, C.R., Goldberg, S.R., Spauligodon loboi n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) parasite of Liolaemus spp. (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from northwestern Argentina. Journal of Parasitology, 88 (2002), 370–374. https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2002)088[0370:SLNSNP]2.0.CO;2
35. Anderson, R.C., Nematode parasites of vertebrates: their development and transmission. CABI Publishing: New york, USA, 2000.
36. Dollfus, R.P., Station experimentale de parasitologie de Richelieu (Indreet-Loire). Contribution a la faune parasitaire regionale. Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparee, 36 (1961), 174–325.
37. Hornero, M.J., Roca, V., Helmintofauna de Podarcis lilfordi (Günther, 1874) (Sauria, Lacertidae) de los islotes de Menorca (islas Baleares, Mediterraneo occidental). Miscel·lània Zoològica, (1992), 1–6.
38. Roca, V., Lluch, J., Navarro, P., Studies on the helminths of Iberian reptiles. I. Parasites of Lacertidae: Lacerta lepida and Podarcis hispanica. Revista Ibérica de Parasitología, 46 (1986), 129–136.
39. Roca, V., Lluch, J., L’helminthofaune des Lacertidae (Reptilia) de la zone thermoméditerranéenne de l’est de l’Espagne. Aspects écologiques. Ecological survey on the helminths parasitizing Lacertidae (Reptilia) on the east of Spain. Vie et Milieu/Life & Environment, (1988), 201–205.
40. Roca, V., Balaguɛr, L., Hornero, M.J., Gei (Seoane, 1884) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) en el cuadrante noroccidental de. Revista Ibérica de Parasitología, 49 (1989), 127–135.
41. Roca, V., Ferragut, M.V., Helmintofauna del lagarto verdinegro, Lacerta schreiberi Bedriaga, 1878 (Reptilia: Lacertidae) del Sistema Central (España). Revista Ibérica de Parasitología, 49 (1989), 291–300.
42. Roca, V., Hornero, M.J., Helminth infracommunities of Podarcis pityusensis and Podarcis lilfordi (Sauria: Lacertidae) from the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean Basin). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 72 (1994), 658–664. https://doi.org/10.1139/z94-089
43. Roca, V., Jorge, F., Carretero, M.A., Synopsis of the helminth communities of the lacertid lizards from the Balearic and Canary Islands. Basic and Applied Herpetology, 26 (2012), 107–116.
44. Yıldırımhan, H.S., Bursey, C.R., Altunel, F.N., Helminth parasites of the Balkan green lizard, Lacerta trilineata Bedriaga 1886, from Bursa, Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 35 (2011), 519–535. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-0910-1
45. Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H.S., Sümer, N., Ilgaz, Ç., Kumlutaş, Y., Güçlü, Ö., Durmuş, S.H., The helminth fauna of Apathya cappadocica (Werner, 1902) (Anatolian Lizard) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Turkey. Helminthologia, 52 (2015), 123–130. https://doi.org/10.1515/helmin-2015-0049
46. Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H.S., Sümer, N., Kumlutaş, Y., Ilgaz, Ç., Durmuş, S.H., Güçlü, Ö., Candan, K., Helminth fauna of Lebanon Lizard, Phoenicolacerta laevis (Gray, 1838) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Southern Turkey. Helminthologia, 53 (2016), 262–269. https://doi.org/10.1515/helmin-2016-0016
47. Roca, V., Helminth parasitizing Iberolacerta cyreni (Müller et Hellmich, 1937) from Gredos Mountains, Iberian Peninsula: Parasites of Iberolacerta cyreni. Basic and Applied Herpetology, 31 (2017), 69–75. https://doi.org/10.11160/bah.89
48. Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H.S., Kumlutaş, Y., Candan, K., Ilgaz, Ç., Research Note: The first helminth study on Brandt’s Persian Lizard Iranolacerta brandtii (De Filippi, 1863) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Van Province, Turkey. Helminthologia, 54 (2017), 174–178. https://doi.org/10.1515/helm-2017-0021
49. Yıldırımhan, H.S., Karaman, D., Bursey, C.R., Helminth fauna of the European green lizard, Lacerta viridis (Laurenti, 1768), from Bursa, Turkey. Comparative Parasitology, 87 (2020), 56–67. https://doi.org/10.1654/1525-2647-87.1.56
50. Yıldırımhan, H.S., Sümer, N., Bursey, C.R., Helminth parasites of two lacertid species, Anatololacerta anatolica (Werner, 1902) and Darevskia rudis (Bedriaga, 1886) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Bursa Province, north-western Turkey. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 72 (2020), 1–12.
51. Jorge, F., Perera, A.R., Roca, V., Carretero, M.A., Harris, D.J., Poulin, R., Evolution of alternative male morphotypes in oxyurid nematodes: a case of convergence?. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 27 (2014), 1631–1643. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12430