Gastrointestinal apicomplexan parasites of captive reptiles: diversity, causes, consequences

This is a comprehensive study on a variety of genera of gastrointestinal apicomplexan protists in captive reptiles that considers not only their detection and identification based on a robust combination of morphological and molecular data, but also their host specificity, evolutionary relationships, clinical status, and possible pseudoinfections with parasites of prey items that cannot be proven without the use of molecular methods. The study highlights the frequent occurrence and importance of gastrointestinal parasites in the health of captive reptiles, the need for their examination and consideration, and the application of proper management strategies.