Prevalência e intensidade de infecção por Raillietiella gigliolii Hett, 1924 (Pentastomida) em Amphisbaena alba Linnaeus, 1758 e a. vermicularis Wagler, 1824 (Amphisbaenidae) da região Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Raillietiella gigliolii is a Neotropical pentastomid parasite found in Amphisbaena alba. Collections were made in northeastern Brazil in a remnant area of Atlantic Forest (07° 10' S and 35° 05' W) in the municipality of Cruz do Espírito Santo, Paraíba State, and in a Humid Forest area (07° 16' S and 39° 26' W) on the slopes of the Chapada do Araripe Mountains, municipality of Crato, Ceará state, Brazil. Nine specimens of A. alba and 12 of A. vermicularis were collected to gather basic ecological data (prevalence and mean intensity of infection) concerning these parasites. Raillietiella gigliolii was found infecting the lungs of both species. The prevalence for A. alba was 55.5% (5/9), with a mean intensity of infection of 5.0 ± 2.53 and amplitudes of 1-13. A. vermicularis demonstrated prevalence of 50%, with a mean intensity of infection of 5.3 ± 2.1 and amplitudes of 1-14. This represents the first record of R. gigliolii as a parasite of A. vermicularis. Our results suggest that R. gigliolii is a generalist parasite species and that an overlapping diet is the determinant factor in the sharing of its final hosts.