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

José Osvaldo Valdebenito,Alexandra Grandón-Ojeda,Carlos Barrientos,Armando Cicchino,Lucila Moreno,Mabel Mena,Sergey Mironov,Daniel González-Acuña,John Mike Kinsella

doi:10.1590/s1984-296120180042

Abstract

With the aim to identify the parasite fauna of plumbeous rail, Pardirallus sanguinolentus (Aves: Rallidae) in Chile, 26 carcasses were parasitologically necropsied. The present study revealed the presence of 14 species of parasites (inverse Simpson index = 4.64; evenness = 0.332), including ectoparasites: feather mites: Analloptes megnini , Grallobia sp., Grallolichus sp., Megniniella sp., and Metanalges sp.; the feather lice Pseudomenopon meinertzhageni, Rallicola andinus, and Fulicoffula sp.; and six species of gastrointestinal helminths: Heterakis psophiae, Porrocaecum ardeae, Tetrameres sp., Capillaria sp., Diorchis sp., and Plagiorhynchus sp. The relatively high parasite richness that was found could be attributed to the highly favorable conditions of wetlands for parasite development. All parasites found, except feather lice, are new records for plumbeous rail. A checklist of parasites for plumbeous rail is presented.

Highlights

Parasite-host associations reveal valuable information about the host that should always be considered for studies of biodiversity and conservation (PÉREZ-PONCE DE LEÓN & GARCÍA-PRIETO, 2001), since parasites have been linked to important variations in biodiversity, population declines, and even species extinction (e.g., JOHNSON et al, 1999; CUNNINGHAM & DASZAK, 1998)
The present study revealed the presence of 14 species of parasites, including ectoparasites: feather mites: Analloptes megnini, Grallobia sp., Grallolichus sp., Megniniella sp., and Metanalges sp.; the feather lice Pseudomenopon meinertzhageni, Rallicola andinus, and Fulicoffula sp.; and six species of gastrointestinal helminths: Heterakis psophiae, Porrocaecum ardeae, Tetrameres sp., Capillaria sp., Diorchis sp., and Plagiorhynchus sp
Acanthocephala: In one bird (4.3%), one individual from the genus Plagiorhynchus Lühe (1911) (Plagiorhynchidae) was found

Summary

Introduction

Parasite-host associations reveal valuable information about the host that should always be considered for studies of biodiversity and conservation (PÉREZ-PONCE DE LEÓN & GARCÍA-PRIETO, 2001), since parasites have been linked to important variations in biodiversity, population declines, and even species extinction (e.g., JOHNSON et al, 1999; CUNNINGHAM & DASZAK, 1998). Three of which are partially distributed in Chile. This bird inhabits all types of wetlands, including brackish and.

Objectives

Methods

Results