FIRST RECORD OF Parapharyngodon riojensis (NEMATODA: PHARYNGODONIDAE) IN Phymaturus cf. palluma (IGUANIA: LIOLAEMIDAE) FROM SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA

QUINTERO ALDANA; CASTILLO, GABRIEL NATALIO; CYNTHIA JESICA GONZALEZ RIVAS

San Juan

Congreso; XLI Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2023

At the moment 64 species have been mentioned from San Juan province. Out of these reptile species, only 21 have been recorded with any species of parasitic nematodes. Due to this limited knowledge about nematodes interacting with the reptile fauna of San Juan, the objective of this study is to expand the understanding of the parasite-host interaction. We analyzed the gastrointestinal contents of one male specimens of Phymaturus cf. palluma from Tocota locality, Iglesia department, San Juan province to contribute to the understanding of parasites in Liolaemidae lizards from Argentina. Sixty nematodes (6 males and 54 females) were found and located assigned as Parapharyngodon riojensis in the intestine region. Parasitic ecological indicators indicated an intensity of 60 nematodes. The nematodes possessed the characteristic diagnosis of the species, including the presence of seven caudal papillae, oval eggs with a punctate thick shell, and an echinate anal lip in males. Our study represents the first record of this parasite in Phymaturus cf. palluma, contributing to knowledge parasitism in lizards from San Juan province.