Santoro M, Aznar F J, Mattiucci S, Kinsella J M, Pellegrino F, Cipriani P, Nascetti G
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Parasitology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
J Helminthol. 2013 Sep;87(3):277-85. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X12000338. Epub 2012 Jun 13.
Parasite assemblages of the Western whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus carbonarius were investigated from the Calabria region in southern Italy. A total of 14 parasite taxa including 6 nematodes, 3 acanthocephalans, 2 cestodes, 2 digeneans and a single pentastomid was identified. Within the study area, H. v. carbonarius serves as the final host for seven species of helminths, of which only four (Hexametra quadricornis, Kalicephalus viperae, Paracapillaria sonsinoi and Renifer aniarum) can be considered as snake specialists, while one (Oswaldocruzia filiformis) is shared with other reptiles and amphibians, and two (Paradistomum mutabile and Rhabdias fuscovenosa) with lizards. A large proportion of larval forms of six helminth taxa (about 95% of all helminths collected) was found, for which H. v. carbonarius serves as an intermediate and/or paratenic host; however, adult stages of helminths were prevalent in snakes with snout-to-vent length greater than 70 cm. Our results suggest that ontogenetic and ecological factors should exert a strong influence upon the helminth assemblage of Western whip snakes. We concluded that H. v. carbonarius plays an important role in southern Italy as an intermediate/paratenic host for species of helminths infecting vertebrate groups which may include this snake species within their feeding chain. Eleven taxa, including three potential agents of zoonosis, were added to the poorly known parasite fauna of this host.
对意大利南部卡拉布里亚地区的西部鞭蛇绿黄锦蛇指名亚种的寄生虫组合进行了调查。共鉴定出14种寄生虫类群，包括6种线虫、3种棘头虫、2种绦虫、2种吸虫和1种舌形虫。在研究区域内，绿黄锦蛇指名亚种是7种蠕虫的终末宿主，其中只有4种（四棘六翼线虫、蝰蛇卡利头线虫、索尼诺副毛细线虫和阿尼亚鲁瑞尼费尔线虫）可被视为蛇类特有的寄生虫，而1种（丝状奥斯瓦尔德线虫）与其他爬行动物和两栖动物共有，2种（可变并殖吸虫和暗色杆咽线虫）与蜥蜴共有。发现了6种蠕虫类群的大量幼虫形态（约占所有采集到的蠕虫的95%），绿黄锦蛇指名亚种是它们的中间宿主和/或转续宿主；然而，蠕虫的成虫阶段在吻肛长度大于70厘米的蛇中更为普遍。我们的结果表明，个体发育和生态因素应会对西部鞭蛇的蠕虫组合产生强烈影响。我们得出结论，绿黄锦蛇指名亚种在意大利南部作为感染脊椎动物群体的蠕虫物种的中间/转续宿主发挥着重要作用，这些脊椎动物群体的食物链中可能包括这种蛇类。11个类群，包括3种潜在的人畜共患病原体，被添加到了这个宿主鲜为人知的寄生虫区系中。
