Helminths of Molothrus bonariensis (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Icteridae) from southernmost Brazil

Abstract

Information about helminths of Molothrus bonariensis (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Icteridae) are scarce; in this sense the objective of this paper was to contribute to its knowledge. Five hosts of southern Brazil were examined and the helminths Prosthogonimus ovatus, Tanaisia valida (Digenea), Diplotriaena bargusinica and Synhimantus (Dispharynx) nasuta ( Keywords: Shiny cowbird, Trematoda, Nematoda, parasites. ResumoInformações sobre helmintos de Molothrus bonariensis (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Icteridae) são escassas, nesse sentido, o objetivo do trabalho foi contribuir para esse conhecimento. Foram examinados cinco hospedeiros do extremo sul do Brasil, identificou-se os helmintos Prosthogonimus ovatus, Tanaisia valida (Digenea), Diplotriaena bargusinica e Synhimantus (Dispharynx) nasuta (Nematoda). As espécies T. valida, P. ovatus e S. (D.) nasuta são pela primeira vez registradas para a ave no Brasil. Prosthogonimus ovatus, T. valida, D. bargusinica e S. (D.) nasuta são pela primeira vez registradas em M. bonariensis no estado do Rio Grande do Sul.Palavras-chave: Vira-bosta, Trematoda, Nematoda, parasitos. Parasites are among the most common organisms in the world (HOBERG & KUTZ, 2013). They are extremely diversified and play a key role in ecological and evolutionary processes (GOMÉZ & NICHOLS, 2013). Parasitism is one of the most successful ways of living presented by living organisms (POULIN & MORAND, 2000).Birds are commonly parasitized by trematodes, nematodes, cestodes and acanthocephalans, as well as other groups . Taking into account the fact that Brazil presents one of the richest avifaunas in the world, much remains to be explored regarding this subject.Molothrus bonariensis (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Icteridae), known as the shiny cowbird, occurs in South America, islands of Central America, United States and Canada (The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2015). In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, they inhabit the entire state, where enormous flocks often gather in cereal crops, especially rice, during and after harvesting (BELTON, 1994). The male is black-feathered with bluish reflexes, and the female is brown. They feed on seeds and insects, and occasionally on fruits, and often can be seen near to cattle, turning over excrement to look for undigested seeds (EFE et al., 2001).Information regarding the shiny cowbird is mainly focused on the fact that this species lays its eggs in other birds' nests. In Brazil, approximately 60 species belonging to nine families of Passeriformes are affected by the action of the shiny cowbird. This species is entirely dependent on other bird species for its reproduction, because it has not only lost the ability to build its own nests but also the instinct of taking care of its offspring (BLANCO, 1995;SICK, 1997; EFE et al., 2001;MERMOZ & REBOREDA, 2003;ASTIÉ & REBOREDA, 2006).Regarding helminths in M. bonariensis in Brazil, there have been isolated reports of Lyperosomum oswaldoi (Travassos, 1919) (Trematoda: Dicrocoeliidae) (TRAVASSOS ...

Helminths Assemblage of the bare-faced ibis, Phimosus infuscatus (Lichtenstein, 1823) (Pelecaniformes: Threskiornithidae), in southern Brazil

“…The life cycle of Baruscapillaria obsignata (Madsen, 1945) is well-known (ANDERSON, 2000) (Table 4). Aproctella carinii and T. valida were reported in Passeriformes from same region with indexes of infection differing in our research (MASCARENHAS et al, 2009;BERNARDON et al, 2016) In Argentina, in hosts Threskiornithidae, A. heterolechithodes was reported in T. caudatus (n = 1) with MII=15 (LUNASCHI et al, 2015), and in P. chihi (n= 60) with P= 8.8% and MII=8.2 (DIGIANI, 2000). In our research the indexes were similar ( Table 2).…”

Prevalence of Nematode Parasites in Different Birds with Histopathological Changes in the Intestinal Tissue of Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix L.) with Special Reference to Heterakis gallinarum Schrank, 1788

“…Nagwa et al (2013) found in Turkeys (7.1%) and Ducks (3.4%) from Egypt. Gurung and Subedi (2018) Diplotriaena (Raillet and Henry, 1909) is specific parasites of birds found in thoracic and abdominal cavity, in mesenteries, entangled in the coils of intestine, around the heart and under the keel in the body of the birds (Bernardon et al, 2016;Sood and Dang, 1977). In present study Diplotriaena sp.…”

Morphological, molecular and phylogenetic analyses of Diplotriaena bargusinica Skrjabin, 1917 (Nematoda: Diplotriaenidae)

“…With wide geographical distribution, the dispersion may be related to the migratory habits of the birds, thus lacking intermediate host specificity [1,2]. Diplotriaena parasitize Anseriformes, Apodiformes, Galliformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Piciformes and Passeriformes [2]; and in Brazil, Diplotriaena bargusinica Skrjabin, 1917 (Nematoda: Diplotriaenidae) has been recorded for Passeriformes (Icteridae, Dendrocolaptidae, Corvidae, Emberezidae) [1,3,4,5,6].…”