Albert G. Canaris

Metazoan parasites of Himantopus mexicanus muller (Aves) from Southwestern Texas, with a checklist of helminth parasites from North America

Nineteen species of helminths were recovered from 34 of 35 black-necked stilts, Himantopus mexicanus Muller, collected from the Fort Bliss ponds, El Paso County, Texas. New host records are marked with an. The species identified were: Acoleus vaginatus, Davainea himantopodis, Diplophallus polymorphus, Eurycestus avoceti, Hymenolepis himantopodis, Hymenolepis sp. 1, Infula macrophallus, Coacitrema michiganensis, Cyclocoelum lanceolatum, Notocotylus sp., Parastrigea mexicanus, Tanaisia fedtschenkoi, Capillaria sp., C. anatis, C. contorta, C. mergi, Chevreuxia americana, Eustronglydes mergorum, and Splendidofilaria sp. Six species of mallophagan lice and 1 species of nasal mite, Rhinonyssus himantopus, were recovered. Helminths showed little concentration for dominance (0.09), were not very evenly distributed (0.49 +/- 0.08) nor very diverse (0.73 +/- 0.14), and most species were highly aggregated. The helminth community consisted of an unusually large number of core species (10). Three large species of tapeworms exhibited mostly paired infections, were mutually exclusive, and were negatively associated (-1).

Acanthocephala from Kenya with descriptions of two new species.

Three species of Acanthocephala are reported from Kenya, East Africa. Mediorhynchus wardi sp. n. from several passerine birds is described and differentiated by possessing 24 to 26 rows of six to eight hooks on the anterior portion and 40 rows of four or five spines on the posterior portion of the proboscis and in having an anterior swelling of the trunk. Cervical and apical sensory pits are reported for Mediorhynchus. Polyacanthorhynchus kenyensis sp. n. is described from juveniles encysted in the livers of the freshwater teleosts Tilapia sp. and Micropterus salmoides. It is unique in bearing 21 or 22 rows of 26 hooks. The zoogeography and systematic position of Polyacanthorhynchus is discussed. Nephridiacanthius longissimus Golvan, 1962, is reported from the aardvark Orycteropus afer. Among helminth parasites collected in Kenya in 1963 and 1964 by the second author were three species of Acanthocephala reported herein. All measurements are in microns unless otherwise stated. Drawings were aided by camera lucida and microprojector. Mediorhynchus wardi sp. n.

HELMINTH COMMUNITIES OF THREE SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF SHOREBIRDS (CHARADRII) FROM FOUR SUMMER SEASONS AT BRISTOL BAY, ALASKA

Helminth communities in sympatric black turnstones (Arenaria melanocephala), ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres), and dunlin (Calidris alpina) were examined over 4 summers in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The compound community, made up of component communities of all 3 species of hosts for 4 summer seasons (n = 164), consisted of 43 helminth species, with cestodes, especially Anomotaenia clavigera, accounting for 47% of the helminth species and 95% of the abundance. The black turnstone had significantly higher species richness and abundance than either the ruddy turnstone or dunlin. The congeneric black and ruddy turnstone component communities were the most similar, and the dunlins was the least similar. New helminth species continued to be acquired in all 3 host species during years 2 to 4. There was no significant difference for abundance among sample years for each of the 3 species of host. The 3 component communities all included a predictable suite of helminths with 1 dominant species and 4 to 5 associates, a large number of less-predictable species, and a greater prevalence and abundance of cestode species. Consistencies over time included high diversity, low evenness, low species richness (<5), and continued recruitment of small numbers of helminth species with low prevalence and abundance. There was minimal circulation of helminth species between the dunlin and the 2 turnstone species, indicating a considerable degree of specialization, particularly among species of cestodes.

The Metazoan Parasite Community of Migrating Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas and New Mexico

Forty-eight migrant greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, collected from southwestern Texas and southeastern New Mexico were examined for metazoan parasites. Nine helminth and 7 ectoparasite species were collected. Five new host records were recorded. The helminth fauna showed little diversity, little concentration for dominance, and no significant positive or negative associations between species were found. All species of helminths showed a contagious distribution. The component helminth community consisted of 2 core, 3 secondary, and 4 satellite species, and there was no host specialist. A checklist of metazoan parasites reported from greater yellowlegs in North America is included.

Observations on the pentastome Raillietiella gehyrae Bovien, 1927 (Cephalobaenida: Cephalobaenidae) from Mabuya homalocephala in Kenya

SummaryPentastomes were collected from the lizard, Mabuya homalocephala, in Kenya. These were identified as belonging to the Group II species complex of the genus Raillietiella, or those forms with the second pair of hooks blunt-tipped, and are considered as Raillietiella gehyrae Bovien, 1927. A detailed description of the external and internal morphology of the adults, eggs, and larvae is presented and the morphological characteristics of these specimens are compared with those in descriptions from other hosts and localities. The systematics of this and other species of Raillietiella are discussed in the light of current knowledge concerning pentastome taxonomy. Although there appears to be considerable metrical variation, all the species with a blunt-tipped second pair of hooks (Group II of Raillietiella species from lizards) are morphologically indistinguishable based on this and previous descriptions, and all are considered in the present study as a single species, R. gehyrae. Also, the biology and life history of this species are discussed.

Intestinal Helminths of the Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius (L.), During Fall Migration in New Brunswick, Canada, with a Checklist of Helminths Reported from this Host

Abstract Eleven species of helminths (7 trematodes, 3 cestodes, and 1 acanthocephalan) were recovered from 12 spotted sandpipers, Actitis macularius (Linnaeus, 1766), collected from marine habitats in New Brunswick, Canada, during fall migration in August of 2003. All 12 sandpipers were infected, with the numbers of helminths ranging from 2 to 942 individuals; species richness ranged from 2 to 7. The cestode Anomotaenia hypoleuci was the most prevalent helminth and is designated a host specialist. The trematodes Microphallus papillorobustus and Maritrema subdolum were the most abundant helminths. Adult birds tended to have fewer parasites than juveniles, but the data are inconclusive. Each of the helminth species represents a new host record. A checklist of helminth parasites reported from the spotted sandpiper in North and South America is included.

Helminth Parasites in Six Species of Shorebirds (Charadrii) from the Coast of Belize

Thirteen species of helminth parasites were recovered from six species of charadriid shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes) from Belize: the ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres, the snowy plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, the semipalmated plover, C. semipalmatus, the killdeer, C. vociferus, the white-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis, and the black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola. Cestode species were predominant (N = 8), followed by trematode species (N = 3) and acanthocephala (N = 2). The trematode, Paramaritremopsis solielangi infected four of the six species of hosts. The cestodes, Nadejdolepis litoralis and N. paranitidulans infected three and two host species respectively. Helminth parasite species were contagious (clumped) and not evenly distributed among hosts. Twelve of the 13 species were generalists. The one specialist Microphallus kinsellae was recovered from one C. fuscicollis. Three of the four types of feeding guilds were present and in approximately the same number. All but M. kinsellae have been reported from other species of hosts, mostly from Eurasia and North America.

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.

Helminth parasites of the American avocet Recurvirostra americana (Aves), from the Salt Lake basin, Utah.

Five species of cestodes and 1 species of trematode, for a total of 4,770 (chi- =79.5) helminths, were obtained from 60 American avocets, Recurvirostra americana, collected from July to September 1985 and 1986 in the Salt Lake basin, Utah. The most prevalent parasite was the cestode Diplophallus coili (95%). It occurred in mature pairs 90% of the time. All species of helminths showed a contagious distribution except for mature D. coili, which had a uniform distribution. This uniform distribution, which is unusual for species of helminths, has been observed for at least 4 species of large tapeworms in the recurvirostrids. The helminth community consisted of 3 specialists, 1 generalist, and 2 of uncertain status. The same specialists have been reported also in R. americana from Texas, Colorado, and Manitoba, Canada.

A Predictable Suite of Helminth Parasites in the Long-Billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus, From the Chihuahua Desert in Texas and Mexico

Abstract Eighty-eight long-billed dowitchers, Limnodromus scolopaceus, were examined for helminth parasites, 62 from Texas and 26 from Mexico. In total, 3,558 helminth parasites were obtained from this host, 2,273 from Texas birds and 1,285 from birds from Mexico. The component communities consisted of 22 species of helminths in Texas, and 19 in Mexico. Of a total of 26 helminth species recorded from the 2 localities, 15 were common to both, 7 found only in Texas, and 4 only in Mexico. Fifty-nine of 62 Texas birds and 25 of 26 birds from Mexico were infected. The most prevalent helminth for Texas was the cestode Shipleya inermis. The cestode Aploparaksis retroversa was the most abundant, accounting for 37% of the total abundance, and was second highest in prevalence. Five species of cestodes, A. retroversa, Aploparaksis diagonalis, Aploparaksis occidentalis, Aploparaksis rissae, and Shipleya inermis accounted for 79% of total abundance. In the sample from Mexico, S. inermis was also highest in prevalence, followed by the nematode Hystrichis tricolor. The cestode A. retroversa was highest in abundance at 50% of the total, and was third highest in prevalence. Mean species richness, diversity, and evenness were similar among the component communities of Texas and Mexico. A predictable suite of aploparaksid cestodes, together with the cestode S. inermis, constituted 79%, and 61%, of total abundance for the component communities of Texas and Mexico, respectively, and were present in all component communities for locality, season, and year. The cestodes, A. retroversa and S. inermis, were the dominant species in all component communities. Differences among component communities and low similarities for all other comparisons were largely caused by less predictable suites of helminth species. A checklist of helminth parasites reported for long-billed dowitchers is included.