Abstract
Invasive species impact native wildlife in several ways, as they compete for resources and may transmit their specific pathogens. However, the potential consequences of co-introduced parasites are not fully understood. While the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) was introduced in Chile about a century ago, no data are available regarding its parasites. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the parasitic fauna of this avian invader and to determine whether there are co-introduced/co-invasive parasites shared with native birds. One hundred and eight birds were collected from three different localities in the Ñuble region of Chile, and a complete parasitic necropsy was performed in the laboratory. Twenty-three (21.3%) were parasitized by six arthropod species and four (3.7%) were parasitized by two helminth species. Four out of eight taxa are reported for the first time in Chile; among them, three arthropod parasites and the tapeworm, Anonchotaenia globate, are considered as co-introduced parasites. Only A. globata is a potential co-invasive parasite given its low degree specificity in terms of its definitive hosts. Future research should examine whether additional co-introduced/co-invasive parasites have been brought by the house sparrow, and what their potential consequences might be on the health of native birds in Chile.
Highlights
Invasive species can pose a major threat causing the loss of biodiversity
We present for first time, the result of investigations of the arthropods and helminths parasites associated with this invasive species and discuss the potential implications of co-introduced parasites
In terms of prevalence, the arthropods were the dominant group of parasites in the present study (21.3%), that contrasts with helminths (3.7%)
Summary
Invasive species can pose a major threat causing the loss of biodiversity. They can have direct impacts on native species, as they may compete for resources or engage in predation; they sometimes indirectly modify habitats and transmit pathogens (Lymbery et al, 2014). An introduced species will become invasive only when it overcomes the following barriers: it invades a new location, survives, reproduces, and spreads (Lymbery et al, 2014). According to the definitions by Lymbery et al (2014), a co-introduced parasite is a species that enters a new area together with the introduced host; a co-invasive parasite is one that has been co-introduced and switched from its original host to a native host that is followed by the potential emergence of new infections/infestations. The barriers described for the introduced hosts should be overcome by the parasites, as they may be able to parasitize native hosts in the new area, becoming an invasive parasite
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Schedule a callMore From: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
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