Genotypes and nematode infestations in an endangered lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis

Abstract

We used data from 16 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis, to examine genetic signals of intestinal parasite infestation. 30% of 70 individuals had detectable infestations of the nematode parasite Pharyngodon wandillahensis. We found no evidence that higher levels of heterozygosity promoted parasite resistance, and there were no significant associations between 50 common alleles and infestation status. Although neutral markers are a potentially useful conservation tool for studying the risk of parasitism in species of conservation concern, we did not detect any association in the studied host-parasite system.