Nematodes collected by gastric lavage from live American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis, in Florida

J Parasitol. 2009 Oct;95(5):1237-8. doi: 10.1645/GE-1989.1. Epub 2009 Mar 12.

Abstract

Stomach nematodes were collected from 151 live American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis, from 3 lakes (Apopka, Griffin, and Woodruff) in north-central Florida using a gastric lavage technique. Four species were identified: Dujardinascaris waltoni, Ortleppascaris antipini, Brevimulticaecum tenuicolle, and larvae of Contracaecum sp. Of these, D. waltoni was the most prevalent species in all 3 lakes and was more prevalent in Lake Apopka than in the other 2 lakes. This is the first record of Contracaecum larvae in the American alligator and the second record of O. antipini.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alligators and Crocodiles / parasitology*
  • Animals
  • Ascaridida Infections / epidemiology
  • Ascaridida Infections / parasitology
  • Ascaridida Infections / veterinary*
  • Ascaridoidea / anatomy & histology
  • Ascaridoidea / classification
  • Ascaridoidea / isolation & purification*
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • Fresh Water
  • Gastric Lavage / methods
  • Gastric Lavage / veterinary
  • Prevalence
  • Stomach / parasitology*