Digenean parasites of three species of cathartid birds from Formosa Province, Argentina

The aims of this paper were to increase the knowledge of the diversity of helminth parasites from cathartid birds from Argentina, and to analyse the role of the parasites found as indicators of their diet. Six specimens of three species of vultures captured in Formosa Province, <i>Coragyps atr...

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Autores principales: Chiberry, Lu Denisse, Díaz, Analía Roxana, Pagano, Luis Gerardo, Drago, Fabiana Beatriz
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2021
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Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/137902
http://www.revargparasitologia.com.ar/pdf/RevArgParasitol_Vol10_N2_Chiberry.pdf
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Sumario:The aims of this paper were to increase the knowledge of the diversity of helminth parasites from cathartid birds from Argentina, and to analyse the role of the parasites found as indicators of their diet. Six specimens of three species of vultures captured in Formosa Province, <i>Coragyps atratus</i>, <i>Cathartes burrovianus</i> and <i>Cathartes aura</i> were analysed. Helminths and hosts diet were studied. The helminthological examination revealed the presence of <i>Petasiger segregatus</i> (Echinostomatidae) in <i>C. atratus</i> and <i>C. burrovianus</i>, and <i>Strigea vaginata</i> (Strigeidae) in <i>C. atratus</i> and <i>C. aura</i>. The findings of <i>S. vaginata</i> parasitizing <i>C. aura</i>, and <i>P. segregatus</i> parasitizing <i>C. burrovianus</i>, constitute the first records of any helminth in both hosts in Argentina. The examination of the stomach contents revealed the presence of marsupials, snakes and insects (Trichoptera, Formicidae and Muscidae). <i>Petasiger segregatus</i> could be a good indicator of the bird’s diet; and the findings of P. segregatus in <i>C. atratus</i> and in <i>C. burrovianus</i> allow to infer that these birds have ingested fishes or amphibians some time before being caught. Instead, <i>Strigea vaginata</i> has a wide range of intermediate hosts, thus this strigeid species would not be a good indicator of the diet of its definitive hosts.