Amblyceran Lice Research Articles

Chewing lice of passerine birds in reed beds in Slovakia, with a special focus on Panurus biarmicus.

A total of 1185 passerine birds representing five species were examined for chewing lice in reed beds in southwestern Slovakia in spring (April) 2008, 2009 and 2016. Additional collecting focused only on chewing lice from Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Panuridae) was carried out in spring (April), summer (July) and autumn (October) 2019. A total of 283 (24%) birds were parasitized by 10 species of chewing lice of four genera: Penenirmus, Menacanthus, Philopterus, and Brueelia. Most birds showed only very light (1-10 lice/host; 74%) to light infestations (11-20 lice/host; 16%). The authors found significantly higher prevalences and mean abundances of chewing lice on residents/short-distance migrants, that is, P. biarmicus, Acrocephalus melanopogon (Temminck, 1823) (Passeriformes: Acrocephalidae), than on long-distance migratory birds, that is, Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Hermann, 1804), Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Acrocephalidae), Locustella luscinioides (Savi, 1824) (Passeriformes: Locustellidae). No significant difference was found in the total mean intensity of chewing lice between these two groups of birds. Ischnoceran lice were more prevalent and abundant than amblyceran lice on residents and short-distance migrants, whereas the opposite was found on bird species that migrate long distances. A total of 146 (58%, n=251) P. biarmicus were parasitized by 1490 chewing lice. Males of P. biarmicus showed higher prevalence and mean abundance than females with gradually descending values of prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity from spring to autumn. The knowledge of the occurrence and population dynamics of lice on wild passerine birds can be useful in endangered species conservation programs and can also be applied to captive passerine birds, which may be analogous to resident birds in this sense.

Light and scanning electron microscopy of an ischnoceran louse, Felicola rohani, and an amblyceran louse, Heterodoxus spiniger (Phthiraptera: Insecta) from the Indian grey mongoose, Herpestes edwardsii.

The ischnoceran louse, Felicola rohani Werneck, 1956 is reported for the first time from India on the Indian grey mongoose - Herpestes edwardsii (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818) and the amblyceran louse, Heterodoxus spiniger (Enderlein, 1909) is recorded for the first time from that host species. The lice were collected from freshly accidentally killed specimen of the host, preserved and kept at the Museum of Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-sea, Ganjam Odisha. Detailed morphological descriptions of the lice, based on light and scanning electron microscopy, are presented in this paper.

Infestations of Lice of Steppe Buzzards (Buteo buteo vulpinus) Differ from those of Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo buteo)

The Steppe Buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus), an eastern subspecies of the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), is a long-distance migrant raptor that breeds across eastern European and central Asian grasslands. The eastern European populations migrate through a geographic bottleneck in Israel and overwinter in eastern and southern Africa. To investigate how the metabolic demand of long-distance migration may affect their health, we trapped Steppe Buzzards (n = 28) at Eilat, Israel, during the spring migration of 2016 and 2017 and collected their parasitic lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera). We compared their louse infestation levels to published data on nonmigratory or short-distance migratory Common Buzzards (B. b. buteo). These Common Buzzards were divided into two groups, free-living birds (n = 59) and captive ones (n = 104). All the Steppe Buzzards we examined harbored 1–4 species of lice. The Amblyceran lice that feed partially on living tissues and are thought to be relatively more virulent (Laemobothrion maximum and Colpocephalum nanum) were significantly more prevalent on Steppe Buzzards than on Common Buzzards (either free-living or in captivity). In contrast, the less-harmful Ischnoceran lice (Craspedorrhynchus platystomus and Degeeriella fulva) were either similarly or less prevalent on Steppe Buzzards than on the nonmigratory Common Buzzards, either free-living or in captivity. We hypothesize that this difference may mirror the metabolic demands of long-distance migration or, alternatively, our Eilat sample of Steppe Buzzards might have been biased in favor of the heavily infested individuals. In the Steppe Buzzard sample, we also detected a formerly unknown negative correlation between the abundance of Laemobothrion maximum and Colpocephalum nanum.

In vitro biology of pigeon louse Colpocephalum turbinatum (Amblycera: Phthiraptera)

In vitro rearing of amblyceran Phthiraptera is a challenging task. A look on the literature reveals that negligible information exists on the in vitro bionomics of avian Amblycera. Present report furnishes information on the in vitro biology of an amblyceran louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum, reared at 35 ± 1?C, 75-82% Relative Humidity, at feather diet. The incubation period of the eggs of louse was determined as 5.37±0.67 days. The duration of first, second and third nymphal instars remained 5.04±0.65, 5.12±0.89 and 5.0±0.57 days, respectively. The longevity of adult female (13.04 ± 3.67 days) was comparatively longer than that of males (9.6±2.87 days). An adult female laid an average of 0.63 egg/day in vitro condition (35±1oC and 75-82% RH, at feather diet).

Nature of crop contents of an amblyceran pigeon louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum (Phthiraptera: Insecta)

Selected haemetophagous phthirapterans have been convicted to act as reservoir and transmitter of pathogens among their hosts. Amblyceran Phthiraptera are generally believed to exhibit varying degree of haemetophagy. The microscopic examination of 100 adults (both sexes) and 47 nymphal instars of an amblyceran louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum revealed their non haemetophagous nature as any red content compatible with host blood was not detected in their crops. The crops of the lice were found packed with only feather barbules. On seven instances the pieces of egg chorion and in 20 cases the presence of epidermal tissue were also detected in crop contents. However, the presence of any triturating agent (any structure which can help in grinding the feather contents) was not noticed. SEM studies on the ventral side of the head of the louse do not indicate the presence of any pointed gear which can be used to pierce the skin blood vessels of host. Present study suggests that few amblyceran species of Phthiraptera are not in haemetophagous in nature.

Low Prevalence but High Intensity of Infestation by Amblyceran Lice in Red-Necked Grebes (Podiceps grisegena) in Eastern Poland

Abstract. Patterns of louse infestation in waterbirds deserve attention due to potential impacts on host populations. Red-necked Grebes (Podiceps grisegena) were visually examined for the presence of amblyceran chewing lice during the 2000–2015 breeding seasons in eastern Poland. Only one species of lice (Pseudomenopon dolium) was recorded. Amblyceran prevalence was low; four young birds (2.7%) were found infested out of 147 banded individuals (66 adults and 81 chicks). However, all infested Red-necked Grebes bore heavy parasite loads. Negative consequences of infestation for physiological condition were indicated by low hemoglobin and total protein values when compared with same-age non-infested birds. The low infestation rate can be related to the biology of the host (a diving species undergoing molt at sea, solitary breeder) and the apparent high pathogenicity of P. dolium, which left numerous holes in feathers and bleeding bites in all parasitized birds.

Egg Laying Site and Oviposition Pattern of Two Phthirapteran Species Parasitizing Red Whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)

Present study was performed to record the oviposition and egg laying pattern of two phthirapteran species infesting red whiskered Bulbul. The number of egg laid by each species on different parts of body was recorded by direct observation under stereozoom binocular microscope. Feathers bearing egg were subjected to SEM to observe the pattern of egg laying. The maximum percentage of egg of the ischnoceran louse, Brueelia guldum were recorded on feather of back region, followed by neck and breast. The amblyceran louse, Menacanthus eurysternus prefers to lay eggs mainly on neck, head and nape feathers. The ischnoceran louse, Brueelia guldum exhibits widespread oviposition sites while amblyceran louse, Menacanthus eurysternus shows restricted oviposition sites on the host body.

Prevalence of Myrsidea salimalii (Amblycera: Phthiraptera) on striated babblers (Turdoides earlei) (Timaliidae: Passeriformes: Aves)

Survey of literature showed that the population characteristics of the phthirapterans parasitizing striated babblers deserved investigation. Hence, 30 birds were examined during 2007-2009 in district Rampur U.P. The prevalence of an amblyceran louse, Myrsidea salimalii on striated babblers was 40%. The mean intensity of infestation and the sample mean abundance were 33.5 and 13.4, respectively. The variance to mean ratio of the population exceeded unity (36.24). The frequency distribution pattern of the louse was aggregated but did not conform to the negative binomial model. Females outnumbered the males in natural condition (M:F-1:1.4) while the nymphal population had an edge over adult population (A:N-1:1.3).

Microtopography of the eggshell of Menacanthus eurysternus (Phthiraptera: Amblycera)

The egg laying sites, pattern and the egg morphology (SEM) of an amblyceran louse parasitizing Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) have been recorded. Unlike most of the species of the genus, Menacanthus studied so far, the eggshell of M. eurysternus lacks the apophyses (bristle like outgrowths arising from anterior portion of the eggshell). However, the opercular disc of M. eurysternus bears a polar thread and the micropyles are set along the opercular rim.

New record of Afrimenopon waar (Eichler) (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) from Karachi, Pakistan

Chewing lice of the species Afrimenopon waar (Eichler) were collected from captive budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus (Shaw) in Pakistan. This is the first record of amblyceran lice from this host. It is also the first record of the genus Afrimenopon from Pakistani region. The primary host species of Afrimenopon waar is the rosy-faced lovebird Agapornis roseicollis (Vieillot). The finding of A. waar on budgerigars is, most likely, a result of a contamination in captivity. Morphological variation and origin of these lice are discussed.

Relations between song repertoire size and the volume of brain nuclei related to song: comparative evolutionary analyses amongst oscine birds

Song and brain structure are compared amongst 41 species of oscine birds by using the method of independent evolutionary contrasts. We find a significant correlation between the relative volume of the song control centre, the high vocal centre (HVC), and the number of song types typically found in the repertoire. Relative HVC volume is not correlated with the number of different syllable types per song bout. The relative volume of a second song nucleus, area X, is not significantly correlated with either measure. Relative HVC volume is uncorrelated with relative volume of the hippocampus, a brain area involved in other forms of memory. This is the first evidence for repeated independent evolution of an association between complexity of learned song and the relative volume of one of the song control nuclei though to be involved in song learning.

Seasonal changes in a population of Menacanthuseurysternus (mallophaga, amblycera) on the common myna Acridotheres tristis

Seasonal changes in a population of Menacanthus eurysternus (Mallophaga, Amblycera) on the common myna Acridotheres trislis. International Journal for Parasitology 20: 1063–1065. Seasonal variations in a population of an amblyceran louse, Menacanthus eurysternus, infesting the common myna have been studied. Incidence of infestation, lice, index, and population structure of this species have been recorded in different months of the year; reasons for the population fluctuations are discussed.

Taxonomic descriptions and comments on the life history of new species of Eulimdana (Nematoda: Filarioidea) with skin-inhabiting microfilariae in the Charadriiformes (Aves)

Eulimdana juventarum n.sp. from Willets (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus (Gmelin)), Eulimdana asperum n.sp. from Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor (Vieillot)), and Eulimdana pseudolari n.sp. from Red-necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus (L.)) in Canada are described. The name "Eulimdana lari (Yamaguti, 1935)" is restricted to filarioids described by Yamaguti from the Eastern Common Gull (Larus kamtschatschensis (Bonaparte)). Numerous reports of "E. lari" in other charadriiforms are probably incorrect, and new taxonomic studies of lemdanine filarioids in palaearctic charadriiforms are required. Eulimdana bibulbosa (Annett, Dutton, and Elliott, 1901) n.comb. is proposed for Filaria bibulbosa Annett, Dutton, and Elliott, 1901. The 11 species in Eulimdana and their host groups are listed. Adult worms of the three new species occurred in subcutaneous tissues of the neck and connective tissues around the trachea and oesophagus. Microfilariae of E. juventarum and E. asperum occurred in skin, and skin-inhabiting microfilariae may be common in charadriiform birds. Microfilariae of E. asperum were also found in blood, but less frequently than in skin. Microfilariae of E. pseudolari were found in blood but probably occur in both blood and skin; skin was not examined. Prevalence of infection will be underestimated if hosts are examined only for microfilariae as sterile infections (those with only male or only female worms) are common. Adult worms in patent infections (those with mocrifilariae) apparently are short-lived and then completely resorbed by the host. In late patency infections, therefore, skin-inhabiting microfilariae occur in the absence of adult worms. Patent infections probably produce a protective immunity. Amblyceran lice probably transmit species of Eulimdana in the Charadriiformes.