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Depauperate Parasite Faunas in Introduced Populations of Podarcis (Squamata: Lacertidae) Lizards in North America 1

2007; The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles; Volume: 41; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1670/07-023.1

1937-2418

Russell L. Burke, Stephen R. Goldberg, Charles R. Bursey, Susan L. Perkins, Paul T. Andreadis,

Vector-borne infectious diseases

We surveyed all four extant North America populations of introduced Podarcis (Podarcis muralis and Podarcis sicula) for helminths and hematozoans; both parasite groups infect these lizards in their native European habitats. We found only small numbers of helminths and no hematozoans. We conclude that either these two Podarcis species did not bring many parasites with them, appropriate intermediate hosts are lacking, or that these populations have not been in North America long enough for new parasite faunas to become established.