Echinuria uncinata (Rudolphi) (Nematoda, Acuariidae) in Netta peposaca (Vieillot) (Aves, Anatidae) in South America

Abstract

This is the first report of a species of Echinuria Soloviev, 1912, on anatid hosts in South America, causing granulomas. It is also the first detailed description and record of a species of Echinuria, for South America in the Rosy-billed Pochard, Netta peposaca (Vieillot, 1816). Fifty-two rosy-billed pochards were examined for helminths in the Municipalities of Santa Vitória do Palmar (locality of Fazenda Sossego) and (locality of Ponta da Antena), State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and Alvear, Province of Corrientes, northern Argentina. Samples were obtained from 2003 to 2004. After the catch each bird was immediately frozen with dry ice. Prior to necropsy birds were sexed, weighted, measured, and the state of maturity (juvenile or adult) determined, based on the presence or absence of a bursa of Fabricius. The granulomas with the nematodes were found in the proximal esophagus at the junction with the proventriculus. Two birds had one (fistulated) and two granulomas, respectively. One of the birds was from the wintering grounds along the coastal region in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. The other, from one of the breeding grounds in northern Argentina, was captured before the trip to the wintering grounds along the migratory flyway. Prevalence was 3.8% while the mean intensity of infection was 7.2. Morphometry of males and females and the comparison with previous descriptions and illustrations allowed the identification of the present specimens as E. uncinata.

The First Study of the Endoparasitic Fauna of Mute Swans (Cygnus Olor) in the Northern Part of Serbia

“…When E. uncinata was fi rst recorded in New Zealand (Clark, 1979), its pathogenicity was indicated and it is regarded as the most devastating parasite of waterfowl in Russia. In general, this species is considered to be highly pathogenic to anatid birds (Silveira et al, 2006). However, in the present work, such condition was not observed and overall prevalence was low.…”

Stomach nematodes of three sympatric species of anatid birds off the coast of Patagonia

“…This nematode species has been reported in several species of Anseriformes (Anatidae) and Charadriiformes in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America (McDonald, 1969, 1974). The first record of this parasite from South America, and particularly in northern Argentina, was recorded by da Silveira et al (2006) in the rosy-billed pochard ( Netta peposaca ). Although, E. uncinata was recovered from L. specularioides in the northern hemisphere (McDonald, 1969), our findings represent the first record of this nematode in this bird species in southern Argentina.…”

“…In particular, the knowledge of nematodes from anatids in South America is very scarce. Most investigations have been carried out in Chile, Mexico (González et al, 2005; Mercado Reyes et al, 2010; Martínez Haro et al, 2012) and Brazil (Vicente et al, 1996; Vianna Mohr, 2001), while information about Argentina is still lacking (da Silveira et al, 2006; Agüero & Diaz, 2013).…”

Gastrointestinal helminths of waterfowl (Anatidae: Anatinae) in the Lerma marshes of central Mexico: Some pathological aspects

“…in the small intestine. Previous studies also mention the development of granulomas with E. uncinata inside ( Work et al, 2004 ); Da Silveira et al, 2006 ; Oyarzún et al (2019) and Graczyk et al (1993) associated them with N. attenuatus . Work et al (2004) also pointed out that E. uncinatum caused dilation of the glands with flat epithelium, overproduction of mucus, ulcers and sporadically the formation of granulomas.…”