A Survey of Ecto- and Helminthic Endoparasites of Geekos (Reptilia : Squamata : Gekkonidae) at Three Selected Sites in Malaysia

• Main Author: Noraina, Jamal Rashid
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2014
• Subjects: QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32899/2/Noraina%20Binti%20Jamal%20Rashid%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32899/

Ecto and endohelminthic composition in geckos is not widely documented in Malaysia. The aim of the study is to investigate on the parasitic composition of ecto and helminthic endoparasites of the geckos at three selected sites in Malaysia. Samples were collected from three locations, the East Campus of UNIMAS at Kota Samarahan, Kubah National Park and the campus of the Institute of Biodiversity, Bukit Rengit, Lanchang, Pahang. A total of 47 individuals of hosts have been inspected. Host species comprise of Hemidactylus frenatus, Hemidactylus platyurus ,Cyrtodactylus pubisulcus, Gekko monarchus and Gehyra mutilata. A total of 121 endoparasites were retrieved from the host, comprising of the pentastomid Raillietiella sp. and the Oxyurid, two species of genus Parapharyngodon and two species of the genus Spauligodon. A total of 116 ectoparasites were also collected from the host species. All of these are member of the genus Geckobia sp. A Fisher's exact test shows that there are no significant differences in the prevalence of endoparasite infection between species. There are significant differences in the prevalence of ectoparasite infection between species. By using Chi square test, it is also determined that the attachment organ has different infestation rates for its attachment sites. It is suggested that similar studies to be done with higher number of host sample size to enhance our understanding of ecto- and endohelminthic parasite composition in Malaysia.