ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026
Evaluation of the role of house lizards (Hemidactylus frenatus) in transmitting parasitic and bacterial pathogens to humans in Hajjah Governorate, Yemen.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundThe common house lizard (Hemidactylus frenatus) thrives in human dwellings in tropical regions, raising concerns about its role as a reservoir for zoonotic pathogens. This study aimed to assess the potential of these synanthropic reptiles in transmitting parasitic and bacterial infections to cohabiting humans in Hajjah Governorate, Yemen.
methodsA total of 72 samples testing positive for pathogens were obtained from 30 house lizards (H. frenatus) and 60 symptomatic human residents sharing households across five districts in Hajjah Governorate, Yemen. Parasitological examination of fecal/stool samples was performed using direct smear and iodine staining. Bacterial culture, Gram staining, and biochemical profiling were used for pathogen identification. Statistical analysis employed Pearson’s correlation coefficient to examine associations between pathogen prevalence in lizards and humans at the district level.
resultsMicroscopic examination of 30 lizards yielded 72 total parasite findings, with Entamoeba spp. being the most prevalent (occurring in 24 lizards, 80.0%), followed by Giardia lamblia (19 lizards, 63.3%). In humans, Entamoeba spp. infected 51.7% (n = 31) and G. lamblia infected 21.7% (n = 13). Bacterial cultures showed significant overlap, with Salmonella Typhi (21.15% in lizards, 18.33% in humans) and Shigella spp. (19.23% and 18.33%, respectively) being predominant. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between human and lizard pathogen prevalence (parasites: Spearman’s ρ = 0.80, p = 0.104; bacteria: Spearman’s ρ = 0.70, p = 0.188); while these correlations did not reach statistical significance due to the limited number of sampling sites (n = 5 districts), the magnitude of the coefficients suggests biologically meaningful relationships that warrant further investigation.
conclusionsThese findings suggest that H. frenatus may contribute to environmental contamination and could serve as an indicator of household-level enteric pathogen pressure, though further studies are needed to establish transmission pathways.
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