{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,8]],"date-time":"2026-01-08T19:25:08Z","timestamp":1767900308506,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,7]],"date-time":"2025-02-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738886400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia, I.P.","award":["UIDB\/05937\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/05937\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JZBG"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The growing popularity of reptiles has contributed to their reproduction in captivity. When subjected to stressful environments, such as the presence of a higher number of humans and animals, reptiles may become more susceptible to parasites. Endoparasites in captive animals may cause several clinical signs ranging from mild to severe: lethargy, anorexia, diarrhea, cloacal\/penile prolapse, infertility, intestinal malabsorption syndrome, and weight loss, among others. This study aimed to assess the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples of reptiles from a Portuguese zoo through two techniques: a fecal flotation test (using a saturated sodium chloride solution) and Mini-FLOTAC. Ninety-nine samples belonging to 22 different animal species were collected and analyzed. Parasites were identified in 53.5% of the samples. Chelonians had a higher frequency (100%), followed by lizards (56.8%) and snakes (47.4%). The eggs\/oocysts found were oxyurids (36.4%), strongylids\/Kalicephalus sp. (8.1%), Eimeria sp. (5.1%), Hymenolepis spp. (5.1%), ascarids (4.0%), and Isospora sp. (2.0%). Both techniques presented the same results for each sample. The high prevalence of oxyurids, as well as of other parasites, can be explained by possible environmental contamination as these reptiles are kept in captivity. This study indicated the importance of assessing parasitic infections in reptiles in zoos, where routine coprological examinations should always be considered, as well as adequate prophylaxis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jzbg6010012","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,7]],"date-time":"2025-02-07T09:02:42Z","timestamp":1738918962000},"page":"12","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Gastrointestinal Parasites in Reptiles from a Portuguese Zoo"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4086-3068","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"David","family":"Dantas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Escola Superior Agr\u00e1ria, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Viana do Castelo, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2648-4280","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cl\u00e1udia Lu\u00eds","family":"Batista","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escola Superior Agr\u00e1ria, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Viana do Castelo, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Maria Jo\u00e3o","family":"Castro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escola Superior Agr\u00e1ria, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Viana do Castelo, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Nuno","family":"Alvura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoo da Maia, Rua da Esta\u00e7\u00e3o, 4470-184 Maia, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1236-3012","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Teresa Letra","family":"Mateus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CISAS\u2014Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Escola Superior Agr\u00e1ria, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun\u2019\u00c0lvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal"},{"name":"EpiUnit ITR, Instituto de Sa\u00fade P\u00fablica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n\u00ba 135, 4050-091 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS) Quinta de Prados, Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), Universidade de Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.1016\/j.zoolgart.2013.04.005","article-title":"Parasites in Captive Animals: A Review of Studies in Some European Zoos","volume":"82","year":"2013","journal-title":"Zool. 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