Title
Intestinal parasites of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) from eight populations in Georgia
Author(s)
McGuire, J. L.;Miller, E. A.;Norton, T. M.;Raphael, B. L.;Spratt, J. S.;Yabsley, M. J.
Published
2013
Publisher
Parasitology Research
Abstract
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), one of five tortoise species endemic in the USA, was recently classified as a candidate for federal listing as a threatened species. Fecal samples collected from 117 tortoises from eight sites in Georgia were examined for endoparasites using a combination of sedimentation and flotation. Samples from an island population were examined for parasitic oocysts and ova only by flotation, protozoan cysts by trichrome-stained direct smear, andCryptosporidium by direct immunofluorescence assay and ProSpecT rapid assay. A total of 99 tortoises (85, range 0–100 %) was infected with pinworms (Alaeuris spp.), 47 (40, 0–86 %) with cestodes (Oochorstica sp.), 34 (41, 0–74 %) with Chapiniella spp., 2 (3, 0–33 %) with Eimeria paynei, and a single tortoise each with a capillarid and ascarid (1 %). On the island, Entamoeba was detected in one tortoise (2 %) while Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in eight (17 %). In conclusion, at least eight species of parasites were detected including Cryptosporidium, a possible pathogen of tortoises. Interestingly, we detected spatial variation in the distribution of several parasites among populations suggesting additional work should be conducted across a gradient of tortoise densities, land use, and habitat characteristics.

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PUB14314