Stomach nematodes of three sympatric species of anatid birds off the coast of Patagonia

Abstract

AbstractThe present study focuses on the nematode community in the stomachs of three sympatric anatid bird species from the Central Patagonian coast, Argentina. The bird species include the Chubut steamer duck,Tachyeres leucocephalus, the crested duck,Lophonetta specularioides,and the black-necked swan,Cygnus melancoryphus. Up to 138 nematodes representing five species were recovered from 10 of the 13 ducks examined, with an overall prevalence of 77% and a mean intensity of 13.8. Nematodes isolated from the gizzard wereStreptocara formosensisandSciadiocara legendrei(Acuariidae) inT. leucocephalus, andEpomidiostomum vogelsangi(Amidostomatidae) inC. melancoryphus, whereasEchinuria uncinata(Acuariidae) andTetrameres(Petrowimeres)fissispina(Tetrameriidae) were found in the proventiculus ofL. specularioides. In particular,S. legendreiwas registered for the first time in South America andT. leucocephalus, whereasT. fissispinarepresents a new record in Argentina andL. specularioides. Moreover,E. vogelsangiandE. uncinatawere isolated in Patagonia for the first time. The birds studied herein are sympatric in their distribution, and two of them are syntopic breeders; however, they were infected with different parasite species. This situation could be partially due to their diet or their seasonal movements, or a combination of both. Despite the low number of hosts examined, this work enhances our knowledge about parasites from a frequently occurring group of birds on the Patagonian coast, a subject that has not been studied extensively in South America.