Acuarioids (Nematoda: Acuarioidea) from waders and terns (Aves) in Sabah, East Malaysia: evidence for transmission on the wintering ground

Abstract

Acuarioids of the subfamily Schistorophinae occur primarily in gulls (Laridae) and waders (Scolopacidae, Charadriidae) although they are not highly specific. In the present study, six of these acuarioids were recovered from five species of waders and one species of tern collected in Sabah, East Malaysia (5°10′ N, 118°3′ E). Two of the hosts were residents and the rest were northern breeders on their wintering ground. The recovery of Viktorocara capillaris (Molin, 1860a) and Sciadiocara legendrei Petter, 1967 from the resident birds (Charadrius peronii Schlegel and Gelochelidon nilotica affinis (Horsfield)) confirmed that these nematodes are transmitted in Sabah. This is the first indication that transmission of schistorophines occurs on the wintering ground of their hosts. Since the hosts inhabit the marine environment, marine invertebrates are the most likely intermediate hosts. Several factors are suggested that may facilitate transmission in the wintering area. They include the high ambient temperature promoting rapid development in the intermediate host, the high density of the birds, and the long period (8 months of each year) they spend in the area. Sciadiocara legendrei is redescribed.