•  
  •  
 

Keywords

haemogregarines, parasites, morphological descriptions, photomicrographs

Abstract

Relatively few records of apicomplexan blood parasites from reptiles in Arkansas have been published although the effects of these parasites on reptilian health may be of concern. Using photomicrographs we describe the morphotypes of parasite gamonts found in blood samples from the Midland smooth softshell turtle, Apalone mutica mutica, and a western Milksnake Lampropeltis gentilis from Arkansas. The turtle possessed four distinct morphological gamont forms of a Haemogregarina sp. The snake possessed two morphological forms of gamonts of a Hepatozoon sp. Both infections are new host records and the western milksnake has not been described as a host elsewhere for a Hepatozoon sp. prior to this study. These findings show the need for more surveys to help describe the diversity of this group of hemoparasites in the state. In addition, we provide a summary of hemoparasites from American members of the softshell family Trionychidae and from the reptiles of the state as well, to date.

Download

Share

COinS