Helminth parasitism in the Neotropical cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, in Southern Brazil: effect of host size, weight, sex, and maturity state

Abstract

Forty-seven specimens of Neotropical cormorants, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, from Lago Guaíba, Guaíba, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (30° 00' S, 51°15' W), were examined for helminth parasites between 1999 and 2003. Twenty species of helminth parasites were found: ten digeneans: Austrodiplostomum mordax, Austrodiplostomum compactum, Clinostomum sp., Drepanocephalus olivaceus, Drepanocephalus spathans, Hysteromorpha triloba, Ignavia olivacei, Paryphostomum segregatum, Prosthogonimus ovatus, and Ribeiroia ondatrae; one cestode: Paradilepis caballeroi; eight nematodes: Contracaecum rudolphii, Eucoleus contortus, Eustrongylides sp., Ornithocapillaria appendiculata, Syngamus sp., Syncuaria squamata, Tetrameres (Gynaecophila) sp., and one undetermined capillariid (genus and species); and one acanthocephalan: Andracantha tandemtesticulata. The length and weight of male and female birds, as well as their sexual maturity (juvenile or adult), did not show significant difference regarding the helminth fauna; the standard length did not influence the helminth parasite indices. The prevalence of I. olivacei was higher in larger birds while the intensity of infection by this digenean species was higher in females. The abundance of P. caballeroi was higher in male birds. A. mordax and H. triloba showed higher prevalence and abundance in juvenile hosts, while O. appendiculata was more abundant in juveniles. The remaining species did not have their parasite indices influenced by the host parameters studied. The present work records the richest helminth fauna for any bird of the genus Phalacrocorax and is the first study to evaluate the influence of length, weight, sex, and maturity state on parasitism.

Parasites of the Southern silvery grebe Podiceps occipitalis (Aves, Podicipedidae) in Chile

“…It commonly affects domestic Galliformes, but it also parasitizes captive-raised wild birds (MILLÁN et al, 2002;CRUZ et al, 2016). For instance, E. contortus has been described in swans, ducks, gulls, bustards, and cormorants in Asia, Europe and South America (Brazil) (THRELFALL, 1982;FEDYNICH et al, 1997;BOSCH et al, 2000;BETLEJEWSKA et al, 2002;VILLANÚA et al, 2007;YOSHINO et al, 2009;MONTEIRO et al, 2011;SANTORO et al, 2011). This study is the first report of E. contortus from grebes (Podicipedidae), and it expands the parasite's distributional range to Chile.…”

“…Capillaria contorta) was collected from the small intestine of a single grebe. This parasite is normally found in the upper digestive tracts of birds (BETLEJEWSKA et al, 2002) and, in some cases, in the proventriculus (MONTEIRO et al, 2011). It commonly affects domestic Galliformes, but it also parasitizes captive-raised wild birds (MILLÁN et al, 2002;CRUZ et al, 2016).…”

“…Additionally, one must consider that P. occipitalis coexists with different seabirds along the coast of central Chile, including birds that were previously indicated as hosts for E. contortus (e.g. Phalacrocorax brasilianus) (MONTEIRO et al, 2011). Furthermore, this parasite was identified as a possible threat for the conservation of wild species (VILLANÚA et al, 2007), mostly due to its negative effects on the body's overall condition (BOSCH et al, 2000) and its susceptibility to predation (MILLÁN et al, 2002).…”

Morphological characterization of Eustrongylides sp. larvae (Nematoda, Dioctophymatoidea) parasite of Rhinella marina (Amphibia: Bufonidae) from Eastern Amazonia

“…Valente et al (2011) described other piscivorous birds of the Acciptitriformes (Pandionidae family) and Charadriiformes (Laridae and Sternidae families) in the same Archipelago. Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus was found as a definitive host for Eustrongylides nematodes in South of Brazil (MONTEIRO et al, 2011), thus, as it is also a common fish-eating bird species in Amazon region, it should be considered as a potential definitive host for Eustrongylides nematodes in that area. These birds, due to their feeding habits, may participate in the biological cycle of Eustrongylides in the region.…”

New host records and a checklist of fishes infected with Austrodiplostomum compactum (Digenea: Diplostomidae) in Brazil

“…Diplostomum and Austrodiplostomum metacercariae are frequently found in the eyes of freshwater fishes, which are the second intermediate hosts during the life cycle of the parasite (SEPPÄLÄ et al, 2004). The adult stage parasitises the digestive tract of piscivorous birds, and Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Gmelin, 1789) [=Phalacrocorax olivaceus] is considered definitive host of this digenean in Brazil (TRAVASSOS et al, 1969;NORONHA et al, 2009;MONTEIRO et al, 2011).…”