Abstract:

Aims: Lizards represent the most diverse group of reptiles, and recently, the number of threatened lizard species has been increasing significantly. One contributing factor to the endangerment of lizards is trematode infection. The trematodes that infect lizards belong to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Platyhelminthes, and class Trematoda, primarily parasitizing the liver, gallbladder, bile duct, and gastrointestinal tract of lizards. Severe infections caused by these organisms can lead to gastrointestinal trematode disease in lizards. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of the parasites that infect lizards. The objective is to provide essential information for the future conservation of lizards, the ecology of parasites, and public health.
Method: Utilizing the classification system of “Trematolgoy in China”, we compiled data on lizard gastrointestinal trematodes from 1919 to 2023. The latest research findings systematically organize the trematodes according to their taxonomic status, as well as their scientific names in both Latin and Chinese, along with the scientific names of their lizard hosts in Latin and Chinese. Additionally, the impact of these trematodes on lizards was examined by cataloging infection sites within the lizards and mapping the geographic distribution of the trematodes. This work serves as a preliminary reference for lizard gastrointestinal trematodes worldwide.
Results: The gastrointestinal trematodes found in lizards worldwide belong to 2 orders, 25 families, and 52 genera, comprising a total of 124 species. The primary orders are Plagiorchiidae and Dicrocoeliida, which fall under the class Prosostomata. The continents with the highest diversity of gastrointestinal trematode species are Asia and South America, with India exhibiting the greatest diversity in Asia, followed closely by Brazil in South America. The largest number of trematode species has been identified in the Agamidae and its Draconinae, as well as in the genera Chamaeleo (Chamaeleonidae).
Conclusion: This paper examines the compositional characteristics of the preliminary list of gastrointestinal trematodes found in lizards and analyzes their contentious classification levels. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the scarcity of research on lizard digestive tract trematodes globally. This study synthesizes previous research on gastrointestinal trematodes in lizards worldwide, presenting a preliminary list of these parasites. This list provides essential theoretical data and serves as a reference for understanding the diversity of parasites in lizards. Furthermore, it offers insights into the impact of climate change on parasite infections and establishes a framework for investigating parasitic threats to other species.

Key words: lizard, gastrointestinal, trematodes, diversity, checklist