Black cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (L., 1758) as a vector of fungi and parasites occurring in the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

The study reported in this manuscript is a part of extended investigations on transmission of fungi potentially pathogenic to man as well as parasitic flatworms and nematodes by wild fowl. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of fungi and parasites in the gastrointestinal tract of cormorants. Mycological and parasitological analyses were carried out on swabs taken from ontocenoses of beak, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cloaca of 21 cormorants. The presence of fungi in the gastrointestinal tract was detected in 60% of the birds examined. They were isolated most frequently from beaks and cloacae of birds, duodenum was free of fungi. The most frequently isolated fungi were: Candida krusei and Debaryomyces hansenii. All isolates of fungi selected for enzymatic analyses were characterized by a high activity of esterases. Stomachs of all cormorants analyzed were found to contain Contracaecum rudolphii s.l. nematode. In turn, intestinal digesta of most of the birds were shown to contain Paradilepis scolecina tapeworm. Apart from tapeworms, duodenal digesta were also found to contain Paryphostomum radiatum digenea. The highest prevalence and intensity of infection with digenea was determined in the case of the birds shot in July.

Body condition and colonization by fungi of House Sparrows Passer domesticus in the urban and rural environment

“…A clear relation between the similar prevalence of fungi in the beak and cloaca may be indicative of the presence of the same species in feed and external environment (Dynowska et al 2013), passage of fungi from the beak cavity to the gastrointestinal tract (Biedunkiewicz et al 2012;Dynowska et al 2015), and a similar physiological condition of the analyzed adult and juvenile birds in the compared populations. Transmission of fungi during copulation should not be excluded (Stewart 2000;Cafarchia et al 2006;Tsiodras et al 2008), and it also indicates a similar degree of infection of males and females.…”

“…Only few studies provide data on the occurrence of fungi in wild bird organisms (e.g. Dynowska & Dynowski 1996;Cafarchia et al 2006;Biedunkiewicz et al 2012;Dynowska et al 2013Dynowska et al , 2015Meissner et al 2015). Pinowski et al (1994) pointed out the role of microorganisms as a significant causative agent of egg and chick mortality in sparrows nesting in hollows.…”

“…Birds are significantly more frequently colonized by fungi than other vertebrates, and thus become their carriers, natural reservoirs or active or passive vectors (Hubálek 2004;Cafarchia et al 2006;Tsiodras et al 2008;Biedunkiewicz et al 2012;Dynowska et al 2013Dynowska et al , 2015Meissner et al 2015). Birds are particularly susceptible to colonization by fungi owing to anatomical and physiological determinants that promote their growth and development, including poorly vascularized air sacs, thin skin without sweat and sebaceous glands, very poor or even absent antimycotic activity in blood (Dahlhausen 2006).…”

Parasitic helminths in grey heron (Ardea cinerea) chicks

“…Paradilepis scolecina tapeworm is a cosmopolitan parasite in fish-eating birds, mainly cormorants, although it may sporadically infect other species (Korpaczewska 1963;Ryzhikov et al 1985;Dziekońska-Rynko & Dzika 2011;Biedunkiewicz et al 2012). Its life cycle is linked to the aquatic environment.…”

“…Nematodes of the Contracaecum Raillet et Henry, 1912 genus are found in the gastrointestinal tracts of many fish-eating bird species (Pyrovetsi & Papazahariadou 1995;Nogueserola et al 2002;Papazahariadou et al 2008) although they have been most often isolated in cormorants (Torres et al 2000;Abollo et al 2001;Dziekońska-Rynko & Rokicki 2008;Biedunkiewicz et al 2012). Kuiken et al (1999) demonstrated that the prevalence in one-week-old chicks Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 7/25/15 9:13 AM at the Dore Lake cormorant colony (Saskatchewan, Canada) was 50%, in two-week-old chicks it was 71% and it increased to 83% in three-week-old birds.…”