Parasitic Helminths Obtained from Okinawa Rails Gallirallus okinawae

Abstract

Abstract. A helminthological survey was undertaken on 39 individuals of the Okinawa Rail Gallirallus okinawae that had either died following rescue or were collected as carcasses between 2004 and 2006 from Yanbaru region, Okinawa, Japan. A total of seven helminth species, including three nematode (Heterakis isolonche, Strongyloides sp. and Skrjabinoclava sp.), two trematode (Glaphyrostomum sp. and Tanaisia sp.), an unidentified cestode and an acanthocephalan species (Plagiorhynchus sp.) were obtained and identified morphologically. Except for H. isolonche and Glaphyrostomum sp., the other five helminth species were the first records for G. okinawae. A significantly higher occurrence of Tanaisia sp. was detected for male rails compared to female rails. Since H. isolonche is known to cause nodular typhlitis and/or granuloma formation in bird guts, monitoring of helminths is recommended in this endangered rail species.

Gastrointestinal and ectoparasites of plumbeous rail, Pardirallus sanguinolentus (Aves: Rallidae) in Central Chile

“…Acanthocephala: In one bird (4.3%), one individual from the genus Plagiorhynchus Lühe (1911) (Plagiorhynchidae) was found. These parasites have a global distribution and were recorded in several bird orders (YAMAGUTI, 1963), including rallids (YOSHINO et al, 2009;ONUMA et al, 2011). All members of this phylum present an indirect life cycle, and invertebrates serve as intermediate host and occur exclusively in the small intestine of the definitive host (ATKINSON et al, 2008).…”