Gastrointestinal parasitic burdens in UK tortoises: a survey of tortoise owners and potential risk factors

摘要

Gastrointestinal parasites are commonly diagnosed in routine faecal samples taken from captive tortoises. A wide variety of parasites have been reported, including oxyurids, ascarids and various protozoa. Routine faecal screening is often advised as part of a preventive health programme for captive tortoises but, without knowledge of the normal parasite burden for a species, there is little evidence to determine what level of parasitic burden may be a problem for an individual tortoise. Unfortunately, despite the widespread reporting of infections, there is a lack of data regarding the prevalence of these parasites in captive tortoise populations. In addition, the factors affecting parasite burden have not been investigated in captive tortoises, although it has been suggested that age and husbandry may play a role in influencing the prevalence of parasites. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in tortoises in the UK and to investigate the factors affecting the prevalence of these parasites.