Helminth fauna of a turtle species introduced in Japan, the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)

The red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) was intentionally introduced from the United States to Japan as a pet in the 1950s and has become established throughout much of the country. We examined red-eared slider turtles from two localities in Japan for foreign parasitic helminths. Consequently, a total of seven species of helminths were found: two monogeneans (Neopolystoma exhamatum and Polystomoides japonicum), three digeneans (Spirorchis artericola, Spi. elegans and Telorchis clemmydis) and two nematodes (Serpinema microcephalum and Falcaustra wardi). Of these, three helminths are alien to Japan-Spi. artericola, Spi. elegans and F. wardi-which represent the first report of their presence in the red-eared slider turtle from Japan.