Pentastomid infections in Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, with a description of the males of Alofiasimpsoni

Two Mile crocodiles were obtained from two different localities in the Krug er National Park, one a healthy specimen, the other in a severely debilitat ed condition. Both were males over 3 m long and both harboured the three pe ntastome genera Sebekia, Alofia and Leiperia. The genus Sebekia was represe nted by three species, Sebekia wedli Giglioli, 1922, Sebekia cesarisi Gigli oli, 1922 and Sebekia okavangoensis Riley & Huchzermeyer, 1995. Of the genu s Alofia two species, Alofia simpsoni Riley, 1994 and Alofia nilotici Riley & Huchzermeyer, 1995 were found. The male of A. simpsoni, formerly unknown , is described and the description of the females emended. Leiperia cincinn alis Sambon, 1922 was the only Leiperia present. Whereas Sebekia and Alofia were recovered from the bronchioles and lung parenchyma, female Leiperia o ccurred in the trachea and bronchi, and infective larvae as well as immatur e males and females, were collected from the lungs, the heart and the aorta . Adult Subtriquetra (Family Subtriquetridae) were not present in the nasop harynx of either crocodile. The intensity of infection was low in the healt hy crocodile and had no negative effect on the host. In contrast, the debil itated crocodile was heavily infected and its poor condition is ascribed to its high pentastome burden. Histopathology revealed lesions in the trachea l wall and the lungs accompanied by chronic granulomata with secondary fung al infection as well as severe chronic multifocal granulomatous pneumonia.