Incidence of Ophiotaenia spp (Family: Protocephalidae) in different species of snakes in Mizoram, India

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to report the occurrence of tapeworm Ophiotaenia spp in various species of snakes by conventional faecal sample examination as well as molecular confirmation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 65 snakes from both poisonous and non-poisonous were examined over a period of one year from July, 2016 to August, 2017 from different parts of Mizoram. Some tapeworms were also collected during post mortem (PM) examination and permanent slides were made. Three faecal samples were found positive for tapeworm eggs, while two rat snakes belonging to the family Colubridae were found positive for tapeworm s during PM. Scolex could not be recovered from intestine due to a time gap between death and PM examination. It was not possible to determine the Ophiotaenia species due to the non recovery of scolex.