New hosts for a snake's helminth: First report of intermediate and definitive hosts naturally infected by Ophidascaris arndti (Ascarididae) in the wild

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.11.003
• Publication Date: 2022-11-14T14:57:03Z
• Authors: Raquel de Oliveir...; Beatriz Elise de ...; Thiago dos Santos...; Rosana Gentile; Jonathan Gonçalve...; Roberto do Val Vi...; Arnaldo Maldonado...
• Keywords: Cricetidae; Viperidae

We wish to report the occurrence of adult nematodes Ophidascaris arndti (Ascarididae) naturally infecting a new definitive host, Fonseca's lancehead Bothrops fonsecai (Viperidae), and third-stage larvae O. parasitizing intermediate montane grass mouse Akodon montensis (Cricetidae), both found in Atlantic Forest state Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. elucidated morphological characteristics adults using light scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Taxonomic affinities between worms were assessed MT-CO1 gene sequences. Adult larval sequences formed well-supported clade had low pairwise p-distances, suggesting that they are conspecific. Our phylogenies also supported ‘arndti’, ‘filaria’, ‘obconica’ groups as independent lineages confirmed allocation within family Ascarididae, although an early offshoot. This is first natural infection this helminth's wild host.