Search

One hundred and seven reptiles (11 families, 32 species) from the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa were examined for helminths. Twenty-three (22%) individual reptiles were found to harbor at least 1 species of nematode; 3 (7%) reptiles harbored multiple infections of 2 nematode species. Eight species within 5 families of Nematoda were found in the reptiles surveyed including 1 atractid, 1 diaphanocephalid, 1 heterakid, 3 pharyngodonids, and 2 physalopterans. Ten new host records are reported. A summary of the nematode parasites identified from South African reptiles is provided.

Three armadillo girdled lizards, Cordylus cataphractus Boie, 1828, housed at the Dallas Zoo in Texas, USA but originally imported from Namaqualand, South Africa, were found to be passing oocysts of a previously undescribed species of eimerian. Oocysts of Eimeria murphyi sp. n. are cylindroidal, 44.1 x 21.3 (41.5-46.5 x 20.5-24) microns, with a shape index (length/width) of 2.07 (1.75-2.21). A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. Sporocysts ellipsoidal, 13.5 x 10.2 (13-14.5 x 9.5-11) microns (N = 20), with a shape index of 1.32 (1.23-1.46). Each sporozoite possesses a single, posterior refractile body. This represents the first report of coccidia infecting a member of the saurian family Cordylidae.

A new host and distribution record is reported for tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. One of 5 (20%) Namib tiger snakes, Telescopus beetzi, from South Africa was infected. Numerous tetrathyridia were found encapsulated in mesentery attached to the small intestine. Morphological examination of tetrathyridia revealed absence of buds, multiple scoleces, or any other evidence of asexual proliferation. A summary of the snakes of the world reported as hosts of tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. is presented.