New record of Thubunaea Pudica Seurat, 1914 (Spirurida: Physalopteridae) in lizard Trapelus mutabilis from Egypt Original Article Samar F Harras, Rasha A Elmahy Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt ABSTRACT Background: Studies on nematode taxa remain poorly described in cold blooded animals, with rareness of data on the helminth community of Egyptian ones, especially lizards. The available literatures are mostly restricted to ecological studies rather than descriptive ones. Objective: To identify and give full description for nematodes that inhabit the Desert Agama, Trapelus mutabilis (T. mutabilis) caught from El-Dabaa desert, Egypt. Material and Methods: Nineteen Agama lizards having the characteristic morphological criteria of T. mutabilis using light microscopy. Those subjected for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were dried, coated and examined. Results:were dissected Seven andout examinedof nineteen for dissected parasitic lizardsinfection. were Gastrointestinal found to be infected nematodes with were the nematodecollected, fixed Thubunaea and identified pudica (T. pudica) (Family: Physalopteridae). They were collected from the stomach and small intestine of T. mutabilis. The main characteristics of adult T. pudica are: symmetrical anterior cephalic structure similar in both sexes, vulva caudal papillae and two subequal stout spicules. Conclusion:is situated in the first tenth of the body, the tip of male tail ends beyondT. pudica well-developed using both light caudal and SEM.alae withMoreover, 32 true T. mutabilis lizard represents a new host record for T. pudica in a new geographic locality El-Dabaa desert as there are no reports of Thethis studyspecies added recorded the first from fully Egypt. described details for Keywords: Egypt, El-Dabaa deserts, light microscope, reptile, SEM, Thubunaea pudica, Trapelus mutabilis. Received: Accepted: Corresponding13 June, Author: 2019, Samar F Harras,7 July, Tel. 2019. : E-mail: [email protected] Print ISSN: Online ISSN: 0020 Vol. 403271567, 12, No. 2, Ausgust, 2019. 1687-7942, 2090-2646, INTRODUCTION Uromastyx Acanthocercus PseudoTrapelus Although more than 400 species of reptiles have Cuvier, 1817; Merrem, 1820; been reported in Egypt[1] there is minimal data on ofFitzinger, the genus 1843 Agama and, until Moody reviewedFitzinger, previously 1843. their helminth assemblage. Worldwide studies on proposedMany species generic of this names family for were species-groups. [7]classified as members the helminth communities of reptiles are limited to information regarding their ecology and taxonomy The genus Trapelus rather than their detailed description . from northern Africa across the Middle East to Asia [2] consists of 15 species.Cuvier, Five species 1817 which occur is in distributed northern Lizards are good models for parasitological and Africa: T. mutabilis T. pallidus Reuss, ecological studies that describe their helminthic T. schmitzi infections, different feeding habits, activities and Merrem,T. tournevillei 1820 and Lataste, 1880 in . Previous studies 1833 in Egypt; T. savigniiWagner Dumeri and Böhme, and Bibron, 2007 demonstrated the high biodiverse[3] capacity of in Algeria and Niger; parasiticflexibility nematodesof habitat thatlocation accompanies the varied thickAlgeria heads, and Tunisia; deeply andsunken tympana and a few spiny predispositions of lizards[4]. However, this parasite scales1837 in above Eastern the Egypt.ear opening They are. characterized by short fauna is rarely explored in lizards as a host, with respect [7] to the taxonomic aspects, compared to other groups of T. mutabilis lizard, is widespread, occurring across vertebrates[5,6]. northern Africa from the western Sahara through Mauritania Mali, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and the Sudan to Egypt[8]. It differs from its close relative Agama Trapelus species, T. pallidus within the genus by possessing The lizard family Agamidae Gray, 1827 is represented inPersonal Africa non-commercial by five genera: use only. PUJ Daudin, copyright 1802; © 2019. All rights reserved DOI: 10.21608/puj.2019.13643.1046 123 PARASITOLOGISTS UNITED JOURNAL irregular dorsal rhomboidal and scattered enlarged base of the tail. Coloration of the live specimen is sandy phosphate buffer saline and fixed overnight in 3% scales; but it has similar scales on the hind limbs and thenglutaraldehyde dehydrated in through0.1 M phosphategraded series buffer of (pHethanol. 7.4) has violet blue throat . Dehydrationat 4°C. Specimens was performed were post in two fixed changes in 1% of absoluteosmium gray with four to five [8,9]transverse bands. Male specimen ethanol and critical point dried. Specimens were The nematode family Physalopteridae constitutes mounted on stubs, coated with gold and examined with commonthree subfamilies: in reptiles, Thubunaeinae birds, mammals, Sobolev, rare in 1949, amphibians occurs a JEOL (5300 JSM) SEM at an accelerating voltage of 25 only in reptiles; Physalopterinae[10] Railliet, 1893, is K.V. African taxa of the genus Trapelus and absent in fish ; and ProleptinaeThubunaea Schulz, Seurat, 1927, of theIdentification collected nematode of the host, species followed[9] followed the key the forkey the of occurs mainlyPhysalopteroides in fish and rarely in reptiles. Two genera Anderson et al. and Gibbons[14]. ,All and measurements identification parasitesare included of reptiles in Thubunaeinae; and are characterized by absence were given in millimetre.[13] of1914 a cephalic and ring, presence Wu of and many Liu, caudal1940. Theypapillae are with an ornamented cuticle forming papillary plates Ethical Consideration: Zoology Department’s council on male caudal surface[11]. The two genera differ from of the Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Egypt, each other by the symmetry of their cephalic structures approved the experimental design and the plan of work. which is symmetrical in Thubunaea, and asymmetrical in Physalopteroides[11]. RESULTS Pereira et al. pointed to the fact that the taxonomy of several nematodes[12] remain poorly described in T. mutabilis these cold-blooded animals in Egypt. Hence, full lizard examined for gastrointestinal parasitic infection, morphological studies of these parasites are important twenty-nineFrom seven nematode out of the specimensnineteen identified (eighteen females to complete the database and help clarify the current and eleven males) of T. pudica taxonomic confusion. Accordingly, the present study using light and SEM. Seurat, 1914 belonging to descriptive light and SEM picture of adult nematode familyFamily: Physalopteridae were identified and described specieswas planned affecting to give T. mutabilis for the first lizard time, caught a full from detailed EL- Subfamily: Thubunaeinae Dabaa desert, Egypt. T. pudica Physalopteridae Railliet, 1893 General description: Seurat, 1914 Adults (Figures are 1medium and 2). sized with MatERIAL AND METHODS Nineteen Agama lizards caught from El-Dabaa Mouthfinely transverse is dorsoventrally striation elongated of cuticle and along surrounded their entire by twobody; symmetrical cephalic end lips. is rounded Each lip and is similarprovided in bothwith sexes.three rounded forwardly directed teeth on its inner side, with morphologicaldesert, Matrouh and (30°1′36′′N, characteristic 28°26′9′′E) picture of T.during mutabilis the a pair of submedian papillae and a small lateral amphid (Reptilia:period from Agamidae), September 2014were toexamined August 2015, for having parasitic the infection. The collected hosts were anesthetized using simple, and situated in the lateral cervical region slightly chloroform. The gastrointestinal tracts were removed between them (Figures 1B, and 2A). Deirids are small, leads into short vestibule (Figure 1A). Oesophagus is separately. Nematodes found in the stomach and composedbelow nerve of anteriorring level muscular (Figures part, 1A encircled and 2B). by Mouth nerve anteriorin 0.7% salineparts ofsolution small andintestine each werepart wasselected. examined Live ring and posterior glandular part. Excretory pore opens specimens were washed in physiological saline and to the exterior, slightly anterior to the junction of both portions of oesophagus immediately behind the nerve Specimens were cleared in lactophenol then mounted infixed glycerin relaxed jelly in forwarm light 70% microscopical ethanol with examination 10% glycerol. and Malering (Figures 1A and 2C). identification.Specimens were measured and examined using (seven adult specimens): Body length: 5.25- 10.85; maximum width: 0.10-0.42. Vestibule length is microscope, and representative photomicrographs 0.03-0.07. Entire oesophagus measures 0.83-2.06 in Olympus CX31 microscope, and Zeiss Stemi 2000-C length, muscular portion is 0.1-0.2. Nerve ring is 0.03- were made with the aid of camera Lucida. 0.07, excretory pore is 0.2-0.22, and deirids are 0.16- were taken with E-330DC 7.4V digital camera. Drawings measuring0.17 from anterior 0.05, while end the of body,right onerespectively. measures There 0.04. Tipare For SEM, specimens were isolated carefully oftwo tail stout is pointed subequal distally spicules; with well-developed the left spicule caudal is longer alae and washed in isotonic saline solution, followed by (0.02-0.03 wide) bearing numerous stout papilliform 124 Thubunaea Pudica in Trapelus mutabilis from Egypt Harras and Elmahy irregularly arranged cuticular ornamentation on one side and 5 on the other side. SEM revealed that (protuberances) on the ventral side. Caudal papillae