Content area
This study summarizes the results of the necropsy of a python found dead in a zoo in Sistan, Iran. Two nematodes, ultimately identified as Ophidascaris sp., were extracted from the python's body. Nematode of Ascarididae family, Ophidascaris sp., is principally found in pythonid and colubrid snakes. Nematodes often cause gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pulmonary lesions. Ascarid nematoda is an important pathogen for snakes, and infestation can be fatal. In this study, the Ophidascaris filaria species was isolated from an Indian python (Python molurus), in Sistan. To the author's knowledge, O. filaria is recorded for the first time from a python in Iran.
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4&domain=pdf
Web End = Comp Clin Pathol (2015) 24:12851288
DOI 10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s00580-015-2146-4&domain=pdf
Web End = BRIEF COMMUNICATION
First report of Ophidascaris filaria (Nematode: Ascarididae) from the Indian python in Sistan, Iran
Maryam Ganjali1 & Mojtaba Keighobadi2 & Javad Khedri3
Received: 24 April 2015 /Accepted: 17 June 2015 /Published online: 1 July 2015 # Springer-Verlag London 2015
Abstract This study summarizes the results of the necropsy of a python found dead in a zoo in Sistan, Iran. Two nematodes, ultimately identified as Ophidascaris sp., were extracted from the pythons body. Nematode of Ascarididae family, Ophidascaris sp., is principally found in pythonid and colubrid snakes. Nematodes often cause gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pulmonary lesions. Ascarid nematoda is an important pathogen for snakes, and infestation can be fatal. In this study, the Ophidascaris filaria species was isolated from an Indian python (Python molurus), in Sistan. To the authors knowledge, O. filaria is recorded for the first time from a python in Iran.
Keywords Ophidascaris filaria . Python . Sistan . Iran
Introduction
Pythons (the Pythonidae) are nonvenomous snakes native to Africa and Asia. The family consists of 12 species including Python reticulatus, one of the longest and oldest snake species in the world. While there is a plethora of these types of snakes in the south of the Sahara, they are rare in some parts of Africa including the Western Cape or Madagascar. Different species of the Pythonidae family live in different parts of Asia
including Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Python molurus is a large species (3 m long) common to numerous tropical and subtropical parts of Asia (mainly in the south and southeast of the continent), also known as Indian python, black-tailed python, or Indian rock python. Compared to Python bivittatus, this species is usually of lighter color (McDiarmid et al. 1999; Ditmars 1933; Wall 1912).
Snakes are increasingly kept as pets; they are also considered as popular zoological and private collections. Reptiles in the wild are infected with a wide range of parasite. Within Ascaridoidea, certain genera and species parasitize particular host. Ophidascaris and Polydelphus are merely found in snakes (Taylor et al. 2007). Ophidascaris sp. is most frequently diagnosed in pythonid and colubrid snakes (Beck and Pantchev 2006). This genus in question defined by Baylis (1920) includes almost over 20 recognized species.
In terms of morphological characteristics, this species has more or less square lips, interlabial groove, no ventriculus, no cecum, two branches uterine and a vulva in the middle or half of the body, a blunt conical tail in males with preanal and postanal papillae, and equal or subequal spicules (Ash and Beaver 1963).
Case report
A 2-m-long snake residing in Zabol Universitys zoo died of an unknown cause. After physical examinations and observations were done, the snake was autopsied to determine the cause of death. The snake belonged to the Pythonidae family, was 10 years old, and weighed 18 kg. It was kept in close proximity to another python in a place resembling their natural habitat. Moreover, the temperature of the snakes place was also similar to that of their natural habitat. Both pythons were
* Maryam [email protected]
1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
2 Institute of Specific Animals, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
3 Pathobiology Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
1286 Comp Clin Pathol (2015) 24:12851288
Fig. 1 Diagram and image of Ophidascaris filaria isolated from an Indian python in Sistan: head of male and ventral views of male tail
Comp Clin Pathol (2015) 24:12851288 1287
fed with rabbits and birds. The dead snake had not undergone any treatment with antiparasitic drugs during its life in the zoo.
During a postmortem examination of an Indian python (P. molurus), the veterinarian isolated two nematodes. The worms were transferred to the Department of Veterinary Parasitology of Zabol University, Iran. The specimens were fixed and preserved in 70 % alcohol with 5 % glycerine. In order to confirm the diagnosis, samples were sent to the researchers of the Iranian National Museum of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran. Based on the morphology, it was obvious that they belong to the Ascarididae family. Following an examination conducted under stereomicroscope, these worms were identified using available nematode keys (Skrjabin 1953). They were identified as Ophidascaris filaria previously described by Baylis (1920). Figure 1 shows the features of O. filaria isolated from an Indian python, in Sistan. In the present study, the length of the parasites and the spicule was measured 5560 and 3.53.6 mm, respectively.
Discussion
Different snake species can be found in various parts of Iran. However, pythons are nonnative snakes and are kept only in zoos. There has never been a report about helminthes infections in neither Iranian snakes nor those kept in zoos. Wildlife management and preservation is crucial to maintain the existing biodiversity and promote sustainable tourism and recreation. Amusement parks, zoos, and wildlife orphanages serve as remarkable recreational facilities and sources of revenue in many parts of the world (including the eastern and southern parts of Africa). However, the major challenge to the authorities of such sites is to preserve the health of the animals (Taiwo et al. 2002). In this regard, ascaridoid nematodes of different genera are very common in snakes. Ophidascaris is a nematode of Ascarididae family in reptiles, and almost over 20 species have been diagnosed in this genus by Baylis (1920). He reported morphological character ofO. filaria as a spicule length of 4.04.8 mm in worms being about 110 mm in length and 1 mm in thickness. These worms were extracted in abundance from the alimentary canal of an Indian python (P. molurus) in Collection of the Zoological Society of India in 1922, and the immature worms in the lung were measured 9 to 60 mm (Baylis and Daubney 1922). It was later recognized as parasitic nematodes of snakes in the Australian Museum (Johnston and Mawson 1942). Sprent (1969, 1970) reported that the length of spicules varied from3.7 to 5.5 mm and found four species of O. filaria, Ophidascaris morliae, Ophidascaris baylise, and Ophidascaris infundibulum in pythons. Elbihari and Hussein (1973) reported O. filaria from an African rock python in Sudan. They observed body length of 89101 mm and the
short length of the spicules (1.471.58 mm) in detail of worm characters. In addition, the parasite had been reported from the Asian rock python in Bangladesh by Biswas et al. (2014) and worms had measured 140 mm. In the present study, the spicule measured 3.53.6 mm, yet the length of the parasites was 5560 mm. Comparing the results obtained in this article with other studies, it seems that the results correspond with the findings of Sprent (1969, 1970), but the length of spicules and nematode is shorter than that reported in Baylis (1920) and Biswas et al. (2014). While Ophidascaris spp. have been reported from pythons in India, Egypt, Guinea, Congo, Australia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, there have not been any cases reported in Iran (Skrjabin 1953). Pythons can generally feed on both plants and animals. They may, however, turn into carnivorous animals if the environmental conditions force them to do so. This family of snakes may prey on different animals including reptiles, birds, and mammals. Pythons living near human residences have been found to hunt cats, dogs, and humans in rare cases (Bogart 1974; Grzimek 1975). Since certain types of parasites in snakes are of zoonotic importance, performing autopsies on snakes which die in nature can deliver valuable information about parasitic infections in Iranian snakes. Furthermore, zoo snakes can receive particular annual medical treatments (Taiwo et al. 2002). This is the first record of Ophidascaris in Iran, aimed at determining further information on the morphology of O. filaria and geographic distribution of parasites found in snakes.
Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge Professor Iraj Moubedi, Iranian National Museum of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, for his valuable suggestions and definitive identification of the parasite.
References
Ash LR, Beaver PC (1963) Redescription of Ophidascaris labiatopapillosa Walton, 1927, an ascarid parasite of North American snakes. J Parasitol 49:765770
Baylis HA (1920) On the classification of the Ascaridae. II. The Polydelphis group with some account of other ascarids parasitic in snakes. J Parasitol 12:411426
Baylis HA, Daubney R (1922) Report on the parasitic Nematodes in the Collection of the Zoological Society of India. Mem Indian Mus 7: 263347
Beck W, Pantchev N (2006) Parasitosen bei Reptilien. In: Beck W, Pantchev N (eds) Praktische Parasitologie bei Heimtieren. Kleinsuger - Vgel - Reptilien Bienen, Hannover, pp 229293
Biswas D, Das S, Abdul Alim MD (2014) The first record of Ophidascaris (Nematode: Ascarididae) in the Asian rock python (Python molurus molurus) in Bangladesh. Sch J Agric Sci 4(1): 2426
Bogart CM (1974) Pythons. In: The encyclopedia Americanus, New York, International Edition, 506pp., Americana Corporation, New York
Ditmars RL (1933) Reptiles of the world. Revised edition. TheMacMillan Company. 329 pp. 89 plates
1288 Comp Clin Pathol (2015) 24:12851288
Elbihari S, Hussein MF (1973) Ophidascaris filaria (DUJARDIN 1845) from the African rock python, Python sebae, in the Sudan, with a note on associated gastric lesion. J Wildl Dis 9:171173
Grzimek BHC (1975) Boids. Grzimeks animal life encyclopedia. Reptiles.
Vol. 6. In: Grizmek H, Klemmer H, Khun D, Werminth W (eds) English edition, 363pp., New York, V.N.R. Company, New York Johnston TH, Mawson PM (1942) The Gallard collection of parasitic nematodes in the Australian Museum. Rec Aust Mus 21:110115 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Tour T (1999) Snake species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume)
Skrjabin KI (1953) Ascaridata of animals and man and the diseases caused by them. vol.1, 136-139pp Moskva
Sprent JFA (1969) Studies on ascaridoid nematodes in pythons: speciation of Ophidascaris in the Oriental and Australian regions. Parasitology 59:937959
Sprent JFA (1970) Studies on ascaridoid nematodes in pythons: the life history and development of Ophidascaris moreliae in Australian pythons. Parasitology 60:97122
Taiwo VO, Alaka OO, Sadiq NA, Adejinmi JO (2002) Ascaridosis in captive reticulated python (Python reticulatus). Afr J Biomed Res 5: 9395
Taylor MA, Coop RL, Wall RL (2007) Veterinary parasitology. Third edn. Blackwell publishing .666
Wall F (1912) A popular treatise on the common Indian snakestheIndian python. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 21:447476
Springer-Verlag London 2015