title: Prevalence and intensity of blood apicomplexan infections in reptiles from Romania.
abstract: In order to evaluate prevalence and intensity of apicomplexan hemoparasites in free-ranging reptiles from Romania, blood smears were collected from European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis), sand lizards (Lacerta agilis), and spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca). All three host species were positive for blood parasites, with prevalence of infected individuals between 60.71% and 100% and variable intensity. Similarities and differences with other epidemiological data are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. amihalca@usamvcluj.ro
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mihalca
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Racka
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gherman
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ionescu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012104:Reptiles / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014426:Turtles / Q000469:parasitology