Anisakiasis in a Captive Chameleon [Abstract]

M. Raman ¹, M.G. Jayathangaraj ², Lalitha John ³ and M.C. John⁴

¹Assistant Professor, Dept. of Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai - 600 007, INDIA.; ²Associate Professor, Dept. of Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-7; ³Professor and Head, Dept. of Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai -7; ⁴Professor and Head, Dept.of Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-7

Abstract. A dead chameleon was referred to the Dept.of Wildlife Science, Chennai, India from Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur. On necropsy, numerous worms were recovered from the intestinal tract. Further investigation revealed the presence of anisakid nematodes of the genus Porrocaecum and Contracaecum. Porrocaecum sp., an intestinal nematode, has an indirect life cycle with earthworms as intermediate hosts, whereas Contracaecum sp. has an indirect lifecycle with crustaceans as intermediate hosts. This finding revealed that the chameleons acquire the anisakid nematode infections by ingestion of infected intermediate hosts such as earthworm and crustaceans. This study has indicated the need for routine examination of captive chameleons to rule out endo-parasitism.

This Page Last Updated October 16, 2000

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