title: Helminths infection patterns in a lizard (Tropidurus hispidus) population from a semiarid neotropical area: associations between female reproductive allocation and parasite loads.
abstract: This study reports helminth infection patterns of the lizard Tropidurus hispidus from an area of semiarid caatinga in northeastern Brazil (Ceará state). The lizard population was parasitized by 8 helminth species, and the species composition of the component community resembles that found for other Neotropical lizards. The prevalence of parasites was higher for males compared with females, whereas no relation was found between intensity of infection of 2 parasites (Parapharyngodon alvarengai and Physaloptera lutzi) and the lizards body size. For reproductive females, parasite infection intensity was negatively correlated to reproductive investment.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia de Vertebrados da PUC-MG Av. Dom José Gaspar, 500, Coração Eucarístico, 30535-610, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil;
authors.forename: Conrado A B
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Galdino
authors.forename: Robson W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ávila
authors.forename: Castiele H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.forename: Gabriela C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Djan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zanchi-Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D052284:Clutch Size / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D059208:Parasite Load / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors