Rates of Pulmonary Infection by Pentastomids in Lizards Species from a Restinga Habitat in Northeastern Brazil/Infeccao Pulmonar Por Pentastomideos Em Lagartos de Restinga Do Nordeste Brasileiro

1. Introduction Pentastomids are pulmonary parasites of vertebrates, principally reptiles, but they have been relatively poorly studied in the neotropical region (Almeida and Christoffersen, 2002). A better comprehension of the biology of these parasites will be important to understand the mechanisms of infection by these parasites, for the conservation of their reptilian hosts, and for developing reptile management strategies in zoos and similar breeding facilities (Klingenberg, 1993; Marcogliese, 2004).