Cestodiasis in 2 Puerto Rican crested anoles

Area of Science:

• Herpetology
• Parasitology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• The Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus cristatellus) is a common lizard species.
• Parasitic infections can cause significant health issues in reptiles.
• Cestode larvae infections, such as sparganosis, are known in various animal hosts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the cause of debilitation and death in two captive Puerto Rican crested anoles.
• To characterize the cestode larvae found within the anoles.
• To determine the specific species of tapeworm using molecular methods.

Main Methods:

• Necropsy and histopathological examination of affected tissues.
• Morphological evaluation of cestode larvae.
• Molecular analysis of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene for species identification.

Main Results:

• Autopsy revealed large cystic structures and abdominal masses containing cestode larvae in both anoles.
• Histology confirmed cestode larvae in the body wall, characterized by specific morphological features.
• Molecular identification confirmed the parasite as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Spirometra mansoni) based on 100% COX1 gene homology.

Conclusions:

• The study identified Spirometra erinaceieuropaei as the causative agent of severe parasitic infection in the studied anoles.
• The findings highlight the potential impact of Spirometra infections on reptile health, including secondary infections like pneumonia and hepatitis.
• This research contributes to understanding the host-parasite dynamics of Spirometra in Caribbean reptiles.