Studies on gastrointestinal helminth of three Lacertid Lizard species, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis siculus and Ophisops elegans (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Bursa, North-Western Turkey

A total of 80 specimens of three species of lacertid Podarcis muralis (39), Podarcis siculus (18) and Ophisops elegans (23) from Bursa were examined for helminths. One species of Digenea, Plagiorchis elegans, 1 species of Cestoda, Mesocestoides sp. (tetrathyridium); and 3 species of Nematoda, Skrjabinodon medinae, Spauligodon saxicolae and Skrjabinelazia hoffmanni were found. The helminths reported in this study are generalist helminths that infect a number of lizards

Helminth parasites of the levantine frog (Pelophylax bedriagae Camerano, 1882) from the western part of Turkey

WOS: 000350424900012Fifty-four Pelophylax bedriagae (Levantine Frog) from Turkey (Izmir and Manisa Provinces) were examined for helminth parasites. The frogs were collected between 2012 and 2014 years. Eight species of helminth parasites were recorded: 3 species of Nematoda (Rhabdias bufonis, Cosmocerca ornata, Oswaldocruzia filiformis), 3 species of Digenea (Diplodiscus subclavatus, Haematoloechus breviansa, Gorgoderina vitelliloba), 1 species of Acanthocephala (Acanthocephalus ranae) and 1 species of Hirudinea (Hirudo medicinalis). Pelophylax bedriagae is a new host record for these parasite species

Exploring the anthelmintic activity of Olea europaea L (Olive) leaves extract and oleuropein in mice naturally infected with Aspiculuris tetraptera

Oxyuriasis, caused by the nematode Enterobius vermicularis, is one of the cosmopolitan intestinal infections of humans. Aspiculuris tetraptera commonly infects mice and it is morphologically similar to E. vermicularis. Parasitic resistance reduces the efficiency of synthetic drugs and poses economic impacts on the dairy sector, thus necessitating novel anthelmintic agents. Olea europaea L. (Olive) is a bioactive plant with potent pharmacological activities. However, its effects on oxyurids are poorly known, and no studies are currently exploring olives’ anthelmintic potential. In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetic behaviors of O. europaea leaves extract (OLE) and its phenolic compound oleuropein in mice infected with A. tetraptera, in comparison with Albendazole (ABZ), a standard drug used to treat parasitic worms. Fecal flotation method was used to identify the infestation with A. tetraptera eggs by examining the stool samples from mice. Infected animals were divided into 7 groups. 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg doses of OLE, 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg doses of oleuropein, 10 mg/kg of ABZ and tap water were orally administered by gavage for 7 days during treatments. Drug efficacies and statistical differences between the treatments and controls were evaluated. Our results revealed 92.43 % efficacy of ABZ, similar to 92.19 % efficacy of 1000 mg/kg of OLE. At the same time, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg concentrations of OLE remained 70.03 % and 63.18 % effective in reducing worm counts. Efficacy percentages of 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of oleuropein were 9.27 % and 70.56 %, respectively. Statistical analysis of ABZ was significant compared to 1000 mg/kg of OLE, which was almost equal but insignificant. In general, our results confirm the anthelmintic potential of OLE and oleuropein against mice pinworms and open the way for targeted extraction of bioactive compounds from plants to optimize its use in human and veterinary medicine

Helminth fauna of Spiny Tailed Lizard, Darevskia rudis (Bedriaga, 1886) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Turkey

The present study investigated the composition of helminth parasites of Darevskia rudis, Spiny Tailed Lizard from Turkey. One hundred and two samples (49♀♀, 53♂♂) from the Tokat, Trabzon, Rize, Gümüşhane and Artvin Provinces were collected and examined for helminth parasites. New host and locality records were recorded. As a result of the present study, seven species of Nematoda, Skrjabinodon medinae, Spauligodon sp., Spauligodon carbonelli, Spauligodon aloisei, Skrjabinelazia hoffmanni, Strongyloides darevsky, Oswaldocruzia filiformis; one species of Cestoda, Mesocestoides spp. (tetrathyridium) and one species of Acanthocephala Sphaerirostris scanensis were reported from the lizard samples. Sp. carbonelli and Sphaerirostris scanensis are here recorded for the first time in Turkey. D. rudis is the new host recorded for Sk. medinae, Spauligodon sp., Sp. carbonelli, Sp. aloisei from Nematoda, Mesocestoides spp. from Cestoda and Sphaerirostris scanensis from Acanthocephala. This host has been studied for the first time for the helminth parasites from the Tokat and Gümüşhane Provinces. There is, to our knowledge, only one report of helminthes for D. rudis in Turkey

Helminth fauna of Lebanon Lizard, Phoenicolacerta laevis (Gray, 1838), (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Southern Turkey

In the years 2010 and 2014, fifty-four samples of Phoenicolacerta laevis from eight localities in Adana (n=6) and Hatay (n=48) were collected and examined for helminth parasites. New host and locality records were recorded. As a results of present study, three species of Digenea, Sonsinotrema tacapense, Prosthodendrium chilostomum, Brachylaima sp. (metacercaria); two species of Cestoda, Oochoristica tuberculata and Mesocestoides sp. and four species of Nematoda, Skrjabinodon medinae, Spauligodon sp., Thubunaea sp. and a larva of the Ascaridiidae Ascarididae gen. sp. were reported for lizard samples. We document new host records for all of helminth species reported here. Sonsionotrema tacapense (Digenea), and Thubunaea sp. (Nematoda) are recorded for the first time from Turkey. There are, to our knowledge, no reports of helminths for P. laevis in Turkey and also from its range

Research Note. The first helminth study on Brandt’s Persian Lizard Iranolacerta brandtii (De Filippi, 1863) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Van Province, Turkey

Population of Iranolacerta brandtii lizard including 56 (21 female, 34 male,1 juvenile) samples were examined for helminths. 17 of them were found to harbour one or more helminth parasites, while 39 didn't harbor any. Two helminth species were determined. These belong to Phylum: Nematoda, Spauligodon aloisei Casanova, Milazzo, Ribas & Cagnin, 2003 and Skrjabinodon medinae. Garcia-Calvente, 1948. This study represents new host and locality records in both host lizard and the helminth species. Sp. aloisei is recorded for the first time; Sk. medinae is the third report from Turkey nevertheless Sk. medinae is a new host record for I. brandtii

Helminth fauna of Lebanon Lizard, Phoenicolacerta laevis (Gray, 1838), (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Southern Turkey

In the years 2010 and 2014, fifty-four samples of Phoenicolacerta laevis from eight localities in Adana (n=6) and Hatay (n=48) were collected and examined for helminth parasites. New host and locality records were recorded. As a results of present study, three species of Digenea, Sonsinotrema tacapense, Prosthodendrium chilostomum, Brachylaima sp. (metacercaria); two species of Cestoda, Oochoristica tuberculata and Mesocestoides sp. and four species of Nematoda, Skrjabinodon medinae, Spauligodon sp., Thubunaea sp. and a larva of the Ascaridiidae Ascarididae gen. sp. were reported for lizard samples. We document new host records for all of helminth species reported here. Sonsionotrema tacapense (Digenea), and Thubunaea sp. (Nematoda) are recorded for the first time from Turkey. There are, to our knowledge, no reports of helminths for P. laevis in Turkey and also from its range

The helminth fauna of Apathya cappadocica (Werner, 1902) (Anatolian Lizard) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Turkey

A total of thirty-one Anatolian Lizard, Apathya cappacocica, samples from several provinces of Eastern and South-Eastern Turkey were examined for helminths. Two species of Nematoda, including Spauligodon atlanticus, Skrjabinodon medinae; two species of Cestoda, including Mesocestoides sp. tetrahydia and Oochoristica tuberculata and one species of Acanthocephala, Centrorhynchus sp. were found. This is the first helminth record of A. cappodocica from Turkey. A. cappadocica represents a new host record for each of the parasite species. S. atlanticus is reported from Turkey for the first time