A REPORT ON THE INCIDENCE OF OPHIDASCARIS SP. IN A RETICULATED PYTHON S.T. Bino Sundar, K.T. Kavitha, S. Gomathinayagam, A. Sangaran, B.R. Latha and T.J. Harikrishnan Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-600 007 Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Abstract: The incidence of the ascaridoid nematode Ophidascaris sp. in a captive reticulated python in Chennai is reported. Large numbers of brownish white stout worms were found in clumps in the stomach along with calcified material and necrotic debris. Female worms were larger than males. The cuticle had fine transverse striations. Female worms had a branched uterus filled with numerous eggs. The cranial end of the worms had prominent interlabia along with square shaped lips. The oesophagus was elongated and cylindrical with slightly dilated posterior part without oesophageal bulb. The tail end of the male worms was found to be blunt with two spicules. Keywords: Ophidascaris sp., reticulated python, stomach INTRODUCTION Captive snakes are susceptible to a variety of endoparasites. Among these, Ascaridoid nematodes of the Genus Ophidascaris are very commonly found in the oesophagus, stomach, large and small intestines of snakes and lizards throughout the world (Ash and Beaver, 1963). These infections can range from very mild form to a very severe form causing clinical disease in snakes sometimes leading to mortality in heavy infections. Factors such as immune status, physiological stress, poor management, food availability and age influence the occurrence of ophidascarosis in snakes (Ambrose et al 1999). These worms feed on the ingesta in the gut of the definitive host and remain attached to the gut wall and sometimes they can be found to cluster together with their heads buried in the centre of an elevated nodule or looped through the stomach wall with the extremities extending into the lumen (Ash and Beaver, 1963). When present in large numbers these worms can cause traumatic injury to the stomach and intestine leading to progressive loss of health status leading to mortality of snakes. CASE REPORT Necropsy was performed in a reticulated python (Python reticulatus) at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Madras Veterinary College. Case history revealed that the python was off feed for a week and had progressive loss of body condition since then. Upon incision International Journal of Science, Environment ISSN 2278-3687 (O) and Technology, Vol. 5, No 5, 2016, 3328 – 3331 2277-663X (P) Received Sep 2, 2016 * Published Oct 2, 2016 * www.ijset.net