A Sample of Endohelminths from Four Species of Malaysian Freshwater Turtles (Geoemydidae) Confiscated in 2001 by Authorities in Hong Kong, People's Republic of China

Forty threatened and endangered Malaysian freshwater turtles representing four species in four genera of Geoemydidae (Cuora amboinensis, Heosemys grandis, Orlitia borneensis, Siebenrockiella crassicollis) destined for the Chinese food market were seized by authorities in Hong Kong in 2001 and transferred to the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A. to be examined for metazoan parasites. The parasites of these turtles were removed, preserved, and tentatively identified. Specimens collected were subsequently transferred to the Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, U.S.A. for further examination. Fourteen species of endohelminths (9 nematodes, 5 trematodes) and 1 leech were recovered. Thirteen new host records (Orientodiscus linguiformes from C. amboinensis; Meteterakis striatura, Proatractis sp., Trichoskrjabinia malayana, O. linguiformes, and Parapleurogonius brevicecum from H. grandis; Orientatractis sp., Telorchis clemmydis, and Orientodiscus fernandoi from Orlitia borneensis; Orientodiscus buckleyi, O. linguiformes, T. clemmydis, and Placobdelloides stellapapillosa from S. crassicollis) are reported, and expanded variability in T. clemmydis from 4 individual turtles is recorded. This project offered a rare opportunity to record parasites from threatened and endangered species.