Description of Nematotaenia dispar from gray monitor (Varanus griseus) a new record in Saudi Arabia
Al-Mohammed, H.I.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 39(1): 317-320
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1110-0583 PMID: 19530630 Document Number: 628950
Due to the increasing information on the reptile fauna in Saudi Arabia and the importance of this group of vertebrate animals, it is of great interest to study the parasites that can infect them. Out of total ten gray monitor Varanus griseus of both sex, only three were found to be infected (representing an infection rate of 30%) with parasitic worms. The parasitic burden index was 20. As regards to sex, 60.7% of the infected Varanus were males. These gray monitor, Varanus griseus of both sexes were caught from the arid area of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The present study provided that Nematotaenia dispar was the only worm isolated and identified from the infected gray monitor. The present is the first record of this parasite from Saudi Arabia.