Helminths from the red-eared slider <em>Trachemys scripta elegans</em> (Chelonia: Emydidae) in marshes from the eastern Iberian Peninsula: first report of <em>Telorchis attenuata</em> (Digenea: Telorchiidae)

Abstract

The present work describes the presence of a digenean in the red-eared turtle Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839) in marshes of the Valencian Community. The faeces and intestinal tract of 105 animals were examined. Only one helminth species was found and identified as the digenean trematode Telorchis atenuatta (Goldberger, 1911), present in the 7.6% of the animals analysed. This is the first report of the parasite in sliders from Spain. Although conclusions are preliminary due to the limited sampling, our results suggest that the presence of red-eared turtles in new habitats may increase the risk of introducing new microorganisms and new diseases with them, altering the sanitary status of the autochthonous terrapins Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812) and Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758).