Endoparasites of the Corn Snake, Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus) (Squamata: Colubridae) from North Carolina, U.S.A.

Abstract

Twenty-four specimens of Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus) (corn snake) from North Carolina were examined for endoparasites. Fourteen species of helminths (2 cestodes, 10 nematodes, 2 acanthocephalans) and 1 pentastome are reported, representing 14 new host records and 1 new geographic distribution record. No trematodes were found, and the salvaged tapeworms were morphologically unidentifiable. Capillaria colubra, at 63%, was the most prevalent helminth, followed by Strongyloides serpentis and immature physalopterid larvae, each at 29%. Two uncommon finds for North Carolina snakes were the pentastome, Porocephalus crotali, and the trichostrongylid nematode, Oswaldocruzia sp.