Gastrointestinal and external parasites of the white-crested elaenia Elaenia albiceps chilensis (Aves, Tyrannidae) in Chile

Danny Fuentes,Lucila Moreno,Mike Kinsella,Carlos Landaeta-Aqueveque,Armando Cicchino,Ignacio Troncoso,Sergey Mironov,María Soledad Sepúlveda,Jaime Reyes,Daniel González-Acuña

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612015053

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the ectoparasites and helminths of the white-crested elaenia, Elaenia albiceps chilensis. Feather mites Anisophyllodes elaeniae, Trouessartia elaeniae, and Analges sp. were detected in 51% of birds (n=106), whereas 24% were infected with lice (Tyranniphilopterus delicatulus, Menacanthus cfr. distinctus, and Ricinus cfr. invadens). Helminths Viguiera sp. and Capillaria sp. were found in five of the birds that were necropsied (n=20). With the exception of A. elaeniae, T. elaeniae, and T. delicatulus, all parasites represented new records found for the white-crested elaenia, and therefore for the Chilean repertoire of biodiversity.

Highlights

The knowledge of parasite–host associations provides vital information regarding the hosts, which should be taken into account in biodiversity and conservation initiatives (PÉREZ-PONCE DE LEON & GARCIA, 2001)
The objective of this study is to evaluate the ectoparasites and helminths of the white-crested elaenia, Elaenia albiceps chilensis
Feather mites Anisophyllodes elaeniae, Trouessartia elaeniae, and Analges sp. were detected in 51% of birds (n=106), whereas 24% were infected with lice (Tyranniphilopterus delicatulus, Menacanthus cfr. distinctus, and Ricinus cfr. invadens)

Summary

Introduction

The knowledge of parasite–host associations provides vital information regarding the hosts, which should be taken into account in biodiversity and conservation initiatives (PÉREZ-PONCE DE LEON & GARCIA, 2001). The winter range of the whitecrested elaenia Elaenia albiceps d’Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1837 (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) spans from southeastern Colombia to the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazonian regions, and is mainly represented by the subspecies E. albiceps chilensis Hellmayr, 1927. (ARAYA & MILLIE, 2000; COUVE & VIDAL, 2003). In Chile, this bird is present from spring to fall, where it is known to reproduce throughout its entire geographic range (MARTÍNEZ & GONZÁLEZ, 2004; JARAMILLO, 2005). The subspecies E. albiceps modesta Tschudi, 1844 has been recorded near Arica (MARTÍNEZ & GONZÁLEZ, 2004), in the valleys and oases of the Tarapacá Region, Chile northern (ARAYA & MILLIE, 2000).

Objectives

Methods

Results