title: Gastrointestinal helminths of the Caspian turtle, Mauremys caspica (Testudines), from Northern Iran.
abstract: The Caspian turtle (Mauremys caspica) is a semi-aquatic and adaptable reptile. To date, there are no reports on the parasites of this turtle in Iran. Hence, the current survey was designed to prepare a list of the gastrointestinal helminth parasites of the Caspian turtle in North Iran. A total of 34 road-killed individuals (14 males and 20 females) were collected between July 2011 and October 2012 from the Mazandaran province, Iran. All parts of gastrointestinal were parasitologically scrutinized and collected specimens were fixed and preserved in 70 % ethanol. Half of the examined Caspian turtles (17) were infected with at least one parasitic helminth. The list of helminths includes three nematodes: Serpinema microcephalum (Camallanidae), Falcaustra armenica (Kathlaniidae), Oxyuridae sp., and one digenean: Telorchis sp. (Telorchiidae). This is the first report of the gastrointestinal helminth parasites of the Caspian turtle in Iran and all helminth species are reported for the first time in Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, 65577 Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Youssefi
authors.affiliation: Young Researcher Club, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mousapour
authors.affiliation: Young Researcher Club, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nikzad
authors.affiliation: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, unidad Chetumal. Av. Centenario Km. 5.5, 77014 Chetumal, Quintana Roo Mexico.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Solis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity (Zoology), University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga, Private Bag X1106, Polokwane, 0727 South Africa.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halajian
authors.affiliation: Young Researcher Club, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rahimi
keywords: Caspian turtle; Helminth; Iran; Mauremys caspica; Parasite; Reptile