Prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasitic infection in captive terrestrial yellow-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulata), San Martin, Peru

Víctor P.N.; Clever N.H.; Alicia B.R.; Geomar V.T.; Juan C.S.A.; Alicia L.F. · Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru (2026) · DOI: 10.15381/rivep.v37i1.32923

Resumen

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of parasitic infection in terrestrial turtles (Chelenoidis denticulata) in captive wildlife centres in the San Martín Region. Sixty-two coprological samples were processed using qualitative (Ritchie sedimentation, direct smear, and Ziehl-Neelsen technique) and quantitative (modified McMaster) techniques. The overall prevalence was 80.65% (50/62), identifying Ascaris sp. (33.87%), Balantidium sp. (30.65%), Strongylus-type eggs (25.81%), Nyctotherus sp. (20.97%, Cryptosporidium sp. (17.74%), followed by Oxyuris sp. (4.84%), Labiduris irineuta, an unidentified trematode, and Eimeria sp. (each with 1.61%). The adult parasites collected in the faeces were Angusticaecum sp., Chapiniella sp. and Orientatractis sp. (each with 1.61%). The degree of infection was mild for all species, except for Strongylus-type eggs. The average parasitic load for Strongylus-type eggs, Ascaris sp. and Nyctotherus sp. was 863.15 epg, 600 epg and 200 opg, respectively. It is concluded that there are a varied diversity of parasitic genera and a mild degree of infection affecting land tortoises in captivity centres in the San Martín region. ©Los autores.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Los Andes; Universidad Nacional de San Martín