First record of Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum through the non-invasive sampling of Anguis fragilis: complementary morphological and molecular detection

Jones, Rhys, Brown, David Steven, Harris, E., Jones, J., Symondson, William Oliver Christian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3343-4679, Bruford, Michael William ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6357-6080 and Cable, Joanne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8510-7055 2012. First record of Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum through the non-invasive sampling of Anguis fragilis: complementary morphological and molecular detection. Journal of Helminthology 86 (1) , pp. 125-129. 10.1017/S0022149X11000174

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Abstract

Relatively few studies have examined the parasite fauna of British reptiles, partly due to the cryptic nature and low population density of these hosts. Here we examined 12 populations of the slow worm Anguis fragilis which, unlike other UK lizards, occurs at locally high population densities. Morphological examination of non-invasively collected faecal samples revealed the presence of Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum and a second unidentified nematode species. Although previously unrecorded from slow worms in the UK, N. brevicaudatum was present in 38% of animals (mean intensity 70.9, range 1–686). Morphological identification was confirmed by sequencing the 18S ribosomal gene. The use of the species-specific, cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene primers proved an efficient alternative to conventional, microscope screening for parasites, although the original identification of N. brevicaudatum was dependent upon morphological characters. Sequencing also identified the second, smaller nematode as belonging to the Rhabdiasidae family: this species was even more common at a prevalence of 83% (mean intensity 102.8, range 1–2000). While increasing our knowledge of the UK macroparasite fauna, this work demonstrates the benefits of a combined morphological–molecular approach.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Biosciences Sustainable Places Research Institute (PLACES)
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QH Natural history
Additional Information:	Pdf uploaded in accordance with publisher's policy at http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/0022-149X/ (accessed 25/02/2014).
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	0022-149X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	06 Jan 2024 02:49
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/30185

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