Gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in Indonesian tortoises (Manourya emys Schlegel & Müller, 1840 and Indotestudo forstenii Schlegel & Müller, 1845)

Abstract. Nugroho HA, Purwaningsih E, Phadmacanty NLPR. 2017. Gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in Indonesian tortoises (Manourya emys Schlegel & Müller, 1840 and Indotestudo forstenii Schlegel & Müller, 1845). Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 3: 163-167. Exotic pets like Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys) and Forsten’s tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii) are not free from the threat of gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes infection. The aims of this study were to describe the nematodes collected from M. emys and I. forstenii carcases and their pathogenic potential. Necropsy was performed on two tortoises carcases and the pathological changes were documented. The nematodes were collected and preserved in alcohol 70%. Nematodes were examined with a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The organs suspected for pathological changes were taken 2 samples to be processed for the histopathology preparation to examine microstructure and SEM to examine the ultrastructure of the infected organs. Based on the parasitology examination, there were 318 individuals of Cissophyllus sp. and six individuals of Tonaudia sp. collected from M. emys secum. Four individuals of Spironaura sp. were collected from I. forstenii’s gut. Based on both histopathological and SEM observation on M. emys secum samples, there were found several sections of nematodes and the inflammation in the submucosal layer and muscular tissue. It was presumed that the mouth complex morphology of Cissophyllus sp. and Tonaudia sp. contributed on the pathological changes and caused the inflammation on M. emys secum. The pathological changes found showed that the parasitic nematodes of Cissophyllus sp. and Tonaudia sp. have the pathogenic potential for M. emys host. Further study should be performed to figure out the pathogenesis of these nematodes infection