A New Host and a New Locality for Aspidogaster limacoides Diesing, 1834 (Trematoda: Aspidogastridae) Infecting the Caspian Freshwater Turtle Mauremys caspica (Gmelin, 1774) in Basrah Province, Iraq

Abstract

A total of 21 specimens of Aspidogaster limacoides Diesing, 1834 were detected from the small intestine of eight infected specimens of the Caspian freshwater turtle Mauremys caspica (Gmelin, 1774) captured from Al-Mashab River, northwest Basrah City. As the present parasite represents its first record in the turtle as a new host and in Basrah city as a new locality, a redescription, measurements and illustration are presented.