A new species of Microtetrameres (Nematoda, Tetrameridae) parasitizing Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves, Accipitridae) from northeastern Argentina.

Mariano Dueñas Díaz,Fabiana B Drago,Verónica Núñez

doi:10.1590/0001-3765201820170967

Abstract

A new tetramerid nematode, Microtetrameres urubitinga n. sp., is described from specimens recovered from the proventriculus of the great black-hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves: Accipitridae), from Formosa Province, Argentina. The males of the new species are characterized by having spicules unequal (length ratio of spicules 1:3.8-5.9) and dissimilar in shape (right spicule with a simple tip, left spicule with a symmetrical bifurcated tip), caudal papillae arranged asymmetrically (two pairs precloacal and two pairs postcloacal) and cloacal lips highly protruded forming a tube. The gravid females are permanently coiled clockwise or counterclockwise in a spiral and having a tail tapering gradually to a sharp point, with a cuticular fold. This is the first nominal species of Microtetrameres (Travassos, 1915) described parasitizing birds from Argentina. The relationship between the diet of B. urubitinga and the low prevalence of M. urubitinga n. sp. is discussed.

Highlights

The great black-hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Gmelin) (Accipitridae), is a diurnal bird of prey found in the open savanna and swamp edges of the Neotropical Region, from Mexico through Central America to Bolivia, Uruguay and central Argentina (Thiollay 1994)
The aim of this paper is to describe a new species of Microtetrameres obtained from the proventriculus of the great black-hawks, B. urubitinga, from northeastern Argentina
The helminths were deposited in the Helminthological Collection of the Museo de La Plata (MLP–He) and the hosts in the Ornithological Collection of the Museo de La Plata (MLP–Or), La Plata, Argentina

Summary

Introduction

The great black-hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Gmelin) (Accipitridae), is a diurnal bird of prey found in the open savanna and swamp edges of the Neotropical Region, from Mexico through Central America to Bolivia, Uruguay and central Argentina (Thiollay 1994). The helminth fauna of the great black-hawk is scarcely known, so far seven species of helminths have been recorded parasitizing this species, Thelazia (Thelaziella) aquilina Baylis, 1934 (Nematoda-Thelaziidae), Contracaecum. Chabaud (1975) recognized three subfamilies: Crassicaudinae Yorke and Maplestone, 1926; Geopetitinae Chabaud, 1951 and Tetramerinae Raillet, 1915. The subfamily Crassicaudinae contains two genera, Crassicauda Leiper and Atkinson, 1914 found in the urogenital system and the cranial pterygoid sinuses of cetaceans, and Placentonema Guvanov, 1951 reported in the placenta, uterus, mammary glands and subdermis of sperm whales (Hermosilla et al 2015, Keenan-Bateman et al 2016). The subfamily Geopetitinae contains only one genus, Geopetitia Chabaud, 1951, found in capsules attached to the serosa of the oesophagus, proventriculus and gizzard from birds (Anderson 2000). The subfamily Tetramerinae contains three genera, Microhadjelia Jogis, 1965, Tetrameres Creplin, 1846 and Microtetrameres (Travassos, 1915)

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