Morphological and scanning electron microscopy characterization of a spirurid in a wild Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica)

Abstract

This study identifies and characterizes a spirurid in a wild Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Native to Southeast Asia, the Sunda pangolin faces critical threats from poaching, illegal trafficking for its scales and meat, habitat loss, urban conflicts, and disease. Despite this, little is known about the biology of wild Sunda pangolins. In this research, spirurid parasites were recovered from a pangolin fatally injured in a vehicular collision. The parasites were preserved and analyzed with SEM, revealing key morphological features such as papillae, lip-like structures, and an anal opening in females. This study enhances our understanding of pangolin parasitology, stressing the value of detailed morphological methods for accurate parasite identification and assessing the clinical relevance of these findings. It underscores the need for continued pathogen monitoring in pangolins and stronger conservation measures to protect the species from parasitic infections and other threats.