Most common internal parasites in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps Ahl) in captivity conditions in Nicaragua, 2024

Abstract

The bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is a species of scaly sauropsid of the agamid family native to the desert and semi-desert regions of Australia. The existence of gastrointestinal parasites in bearded dragons is a crucial issue due to the possible impact on animal and human health. Existing studies on this topic, indicate the importance of knowing and mitigating the presence of these parasites. Gastrointestinal parasites constitute a heterogeneous group of worms that infest the digestive tract and other internal organs of bearded dragons, the general aim of this study was to diagnose the main parasites of bearded dragons in captive conditions, this research was quantitative, the design was non-experimental, correlational, cross-sectional since the study variables were not manipulated or tested. This study had as its universe, the population of bearded dragons in Exotic Fauna S.A Managua, a total of 34 specimens were used to know the parasitology of bearded dragons, the direct method was used. The main parasites found in bearded dragons were the protozoa Pentatrichomona hominis and Giardia lambia, female bearded dragons seem to be more likely to acquire more parasites than males, it is recommended to care for and maintain good asepsis and feeding conditions in captivity to prevent parasitosis in bearded dragons under captive conditions.