ABSTRACT
Pentastomids are parasites that infect respiratory cavities of vertebrates, they are pretty common but poorly known in wildlife veterinary. A Bothrops asper snake (Garman, 1884) was captured in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica and had its lung infested with pentastomids, identified as ca Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1845). This represents the first record of Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1812) on B. asper as well as P. cf. clavatus in Costa Rica. Further studies are needed to clarify their taxonomic position, images and scanning electron microscopy photographs (SEM) of the specimens are given.
Subject(s)
Bothrops , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/parasitology , Pentastomida/physiology , Animal Distribution , Animals , Costa Rica , Female , Host-Parasite Interactions , Male , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Pentastomida/classification , Pentastomida/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Abstract Pentastomids are parasites that infect respiratory cavities of vertebrates, they are pretty common but poorly known in wildlife veterinary. A Bothrops asper snake (Garman, 1884) was captured in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica and had its lung infested with pentastomids, identified as ca Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1845). This represents the first record of Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1812) on B. asper as well as P. cf. clavatus in Costa Rica. Further studies are needed to clarify their taxonomic position, images and scanning electron microscopy photographs (SEM) of the specimens are given.
Resumo Pentastomídeos sâo parasitas que infectam as cavidades respiratórias dos vertebrados, eles são bastante comuns, mas pouco conhecido nos animais silvestres. Uma Bothrops asper (Garman, 1884) foi capturada na região do Caribe da Costa Rica e teve seu pulmão infestado de pentastomídeos, identificados como ca Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1845). Isto representa o primeiro registro de Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1812) em B. asper, assim como P. cf. clavatus na Costa Rica. Mais estudos detalhados são necessários para esclarecer sua posição taxonómica. Imagens e fotografias de microscopia electrónica de varredura (MEV) dos espécimes são dadas.