Helminth Parasite Communities in Two Species of Shorebirds (Charadrii) from Namibia

Abstract

Eighteen species of helminth were collected from 2 species of charadriid from Namibia. The resident white-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus, (n = 40) and the migrant ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres, (n = 40) had 10 species each. Similarity indices between the 2 host species were low, and the only helminth species shared were 2 species of microphallid trematode, Levinseniella propinqua and Maritrema eroliae. Cestode species were dominant (12), followed by trematode species (8). No acanthocephalans or nematodes were collected. Helminths were significantly more abundant in the resident Cha. marginatus than in the migrant Ar. interpres, but there was no significant difference in species richness. Sixteen of the 18 species of helminth were generalists. The trematode guild had the highest percentage of total abundance in both host species. Most species of helminth were found in great abundance in specific sections of the gastrointestinal tract. There was no significant difference in total abundance and species richness for helminths between 2 collecting sites 20 km apart for either Cha. marginatus or Ar. interpres. There were marked differences in abundance for some helminth species between sites for the resident Cha. marginatus but much less for the migrant Ar. interpres. These results further substantiated that Cha. marginatus demonstrated site fidelity and Ar. interpres did not.