Parasites of reptiles in Iran (1922–2023): A literature review

Reptiles are among the most diverse groups of animals, inhabiting nearly all continents and environments. Understanding their parasite biodiversity has garnered significant interest, particularly from a One Health perspective. Although the highly diverse reptile fauna of Iran, comprising 272 species...

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Main Authors: Alireza Sazmand, MohammadParsa Miadfar, Georgiana Deak, Mohammad Babaei, Jairo A. Mendoza-Roldan, Domenico Otranto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424000889
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author Alireza Sazmand
MohammadParsa Miadfar
Georgiana Deak
Mohammad Babaei
Jairo A. Mendoza-Roldan
Domenico Otranto
author_facet Alireza Sazmand
MohammadParsa Miadfar
Georgiana Deak
Mohammad Babaei
Jairo A. Mendoza-Roldan
Domenico Otranto
author_sort Alireza Sazmand
collection DOAJ
description Reptiles are among the most diverse groups of animals, inhabiting nearly all continents and environments. Understanding their parasite biodiversity has garnered significant interest, particularly from a One Health perspective. Although the highly diverse reptile fauna of Iran, comprising 272 species i.e. 89 snakes (Serpentes), 171 lizards (Sauria), 8 turtles, 2 tortoises (Testudines), 1 crocodile (Crocodilia), and 1 worm-lizard (Amphisbaenia), there is a shortage of information about parasites. The present review is a compilation of 62 studies published from 1922 to August 2024. We present information on 56 species of reptiles from five groups (amphisbaenians, crocodiles, testudines, snakes, and lizards) and 98 parasitic taxa belonging to different protozoa and metazoa i.e. nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, acanthocephala, leeches, ticks, mites, and myiasis -producing flies. Although 63 taxa were diagnosed at the species level, 35 parasite taxa were only reported at the genus or family levels. Reviewing the literature, we found a paucity of information about endemic reptiles several of which are vulnerable species. Considering that some of the detected parasites e.g. Cryptosporidium and amoebae have serious clinical and/or public health threats molecular diagnostic techniques are needed for precise identification and understanding of the epidemiology and the potential zoonotic implications associated with parasites of reptiles. There is also a need to understand the exact distribution and host-parasite associations in different reptilian species present in Iran including the role of the reptiles as intermediate and reservoir hosts.
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spelling doaj-art-73242c5daf6342bc98e821d466446be12024-12-12T05:21:27ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442024-12-0125100992Parasites of reptiles in Iran (1922–2023): A literature reviewAlireza Sazmand0MohammadParsa Miadfar1Georgiana Deak2Mohammad Babaei3Jairo A. Mendoza-Roldan4Domenico Otranto5Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina University, 6517658978, Hamedan, Iran; Corresponding author.Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina University, 6517658978, Hamedan, IranDepartment of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina University, 6517658978, Hamedan, IranDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010, Bari, Italy; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong ChinaReptiles are among the most diverse groups of animals, inhabiting nearly all continents and environments. Understanding their parasite biodiversity has garnered significant interest, particularly from a One Health perspective. Although the highly diverse reptile fauna of Iran, comprising 272 species i.e. 89 snakes (Serpentes), 171 lizards (Sauria), 8 turtles, 2 tortoises (Testudines), 1 crocodile (Crocodilia), and 1 worm-lizard (Amphisbaenia), there is a shortage of information about parasites. The present review is a compilation of 62 studies published from 1922 to August 2024. We present information on 56 species of reptiles from five groups (amphisbaenians, crocodiles, testudines, snakes, and lizards) and 98 parasitic taxa belonging to different protozoa and metazoa i.e. nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, acanthocephala, leeches, ticks, mites, and myiasis -producing flies. Although 63 taxa were diagnosed at the species level, 35 parasite taxa were only reported at the genus or family levels. Reviewing the literature, we found a paucity of information about endemic reptiles several of which are vulnerable species. Considering that some of the detected parasites e.g. Cryptosporidium and amoebae have serious clinical and/or public health threats molecular diagnostic techniques are needed for precise identification and understanding of the epidemiology and the potential zoonotic implications associated with parasites of reptiles. There is also a need to understand the exact distribution and host-parasite associations in different reptilian species present in Iran including the role of the reptiles as intermediate and reservoir hosts.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424000889LizardsPathogensReptilesSnakesTortoiseZoonoses
spellingShingle Alireza Sazmand
MohammadParsa Miadfar
Georgiana Deak
Mohammad Babaei
Jairo A. Mendoza-Roldan
Domenico Otranto
Parasites of reptiles in Iran (1922–2023): A literature review
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
Lizards
Pathogens
Reptiles
Snakes
Tortoise
Zoonoses
title Parasites of reptiles in Iran (1922–2023): A literature review
title_full Parasites of reptiles in Iran (1922–2023): A literature review
title_fullStr Parasites of reptiles in Iran (1922–2023): A literature review
title_full_unstemmed Parasites of reptiles in Iran (1922–2023): A literature review
title_short Parasites of reptiles in Iran (1922–2023): A literature review
title_sort parasites of reptiles in iran 1922 2023 a literature review
topic Lizards
Pathogens
Reptiles
Snakes
Tortoise
Zoonoses
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424000889
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AT mohammadbabaei parasitesofreptilesiniran19222023aliteraturereview
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