20.500.12556/DiRROS-30931 Blood parasite infections in the Carniolan Lizard, Zootoca carniolica (Mayer et al., 2000) Blood parasites play a crucial role in shaping host ecology and fitness in reptiles, yet their occurrence in many lacertid species remains poorly documented. We here report the first evidence of blood parasites in Zootoca carniolica, a recently recognized oviparous species, from Slovenia. Fifty adult lizards (25 males, 25 females) were sampled from a population at an elevation of 1300 m in Pokljuka, Slovenia, during the summer of 2021. Blood smears were analysed to determine parasite prevalence and intensity, and the relationships of parasite data with host body size, sex, and seasonality. Overall, 52% of individuals were infected. A distinct sex-specific pattern in parasite infection was found: in males, body size was positively correlated with parasite prevalence, likely reflecting increased exposure to potential parasite vectors through enhanced social interactions and movement in bigger males. In females, larger individuals exhibited higher parasite intensity, possibly due to trade-offs between reproductive investment and immune function, or cumulative parasite exposure with age. Additionally, females showed a significant seasonal decline in parasite intensity from July to August, which is potentially linked to reproductive cycles, environmental factors, or physiological condition. On the other hand, it might also reflect a body size effect since larger females were found in July. These findings highlight the complex interactions between host traits, seasonality, and parasite dynamics in a high-elevation lizard population, contributing to our understanding of host-parasite interactions in European lacertids. blood parasites Lacertidae Zootoca carniolica reptiles Apicomplexa alpine habitat Slovenia host-parasite interactions krvni paraziti kuščarji Zootoca carniolica Pokljuka spolni dimorfizem true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Neznano 2026-07-08 16:53:49 2026-07-08 16:53:49 2026-07-09 03:57:03 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Soavtorji: Urban Dajčman, Polona Dakskobler, Anamarija Žagar; Opis vira z dne 2. 7. 2026; str. 441-448 Vol. 19 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2026-06-30 598.161 2071-5773 283470339 https://herpetologynotes.org/index.php/hn/article/view/295 1 d702c303-7adc-11f1-b663-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=47535 RAZ_Simbula_Giulia_2026.pdf RAZ_Simbula_Giulia_2026.pdf 1 89E31E05BBE79335C26C98C66D5C1593 55390c5383e5c75a00a4f7da0c3f0210da77af4d822d4cdb5530eb566f8e909a f21664ae-7adc-11f1-b663-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=47536 Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo 0 0 0