Cormorant pellets as a tool for the knowledge of parasite-intermediate host associations and nematode diversity in the environment
Author:
Garbin L.12, Diaz J. I.2, Morgenthaler A.3, Millones A.3, Kuba L.4, Fuchs D.5, Navone G.T.2
Affiliation:
1. Sección Ornitología, División Zoología Vertebrados (FCNyM-UNLP–CONICET) , La Plata , Buenos Aires 2. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-UNLP-CONICET) , La Plata , Buenos Aires 3. Centro de Investigaciones de Puerto Deseado (UNPA-UACO) , Puerto Deseado , Santa Cruz 4. Centro Nacional Patagónico (CCT CONICET), Puerto Madryn , Chubut , Argentina 5. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción (CICyTTP-UADER-CONICET) , Diamante , Entre Ríos
Abstract
Summary
Anisakids are usually acquired through the diet. Cormorant pellets are useful to detect both parasite larval stages, and prey items which could act as intermediate hosts in the environment. The current study provides information about the feeding habits of both birds and mammals, and the diversity of parasites circulating in the environment. The objective of the study was to identify Anisakidae larvae and prey items in pellets from the Imperial shag Phalacrocorax atriceps and the Red-legged cormorant P. gaimardi, suggesting possible parasite–prey associations. A total of 92 P. atriceps’ and 82 P. gaimardi’s pellets were collected from both Punta León, and Isla Elena bird colonies, respectively, during the period from 2006 to 2010. Pellets were preserved in ethanol and hard prey item remnants, and nematode larvae were studied using standard techniques. Prey item occurrence, nematode prevalence, and mean intensity were calculated. A correspondence analysis was performed to evaluate the larvae-prey association. Contracaecum spp., Pseudoterranova spp,, Anisakis spp., Terranova spp., and Hysterothylacium spp. third-stage larvae (L3) were identifi ed in pellets. Pseudoterranova spp. and Anisakis spp. L3 predominated in the environment of Punta León, whereas Contracaecum spp. and Hysterothylacium spp. L3 predominated in the Puerto Deseado area. The highest larvae-prey association was that of Contracaecum spp. L3 with Engraulis anchoita, followed by with Odontestes sp. in P. atriceps’ pellets. Contracaecum spp. L3 were significantly related to both sprats, Sprattus fueguensis and Ramnogaster arcuatta, in P. gaimardi’s pellets. It was verifi ed that E. anchovy is the main gateway of Contracaecum spp. L3 in P. atriceps. Odonthestes sp. might act as an intermediate/paratenic host of Contracaecum spp. L3 in the area. Both sprats might play a role as intermediate/paratenic hosts of C. australe, being the main gateway into P. gaimardi in the area. Thus, pellet analysis can be postulated as a good tool for indicating parasite-host associations between anisakids, and the prey items which act as intermediate hosts.
Publisher
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Parasitology
Reference42 articles.
1. Anderson, R.C. (2000): Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates, their Development and Transmission. 2nd Edition, Walingford, UK, CABI Publishing, 650 pp. 2. Bartlett, C.M. (1996): Morphogenesis of Contracaecum rudolphii (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea), a parasite of fish-eating birds, in its copepod precursor and fish intermediate hosts. Parasite 4: 367 – 376 3. Bulgarella, M., Cella Pizarro, L., Quintana, F., Sapoznikow, A., Gosztonyi, A., Kuba, L. (2008): Diet of Imperial Cormorants Phalacrocorax atriceps and Rock Shags P. magellanicus breeding sympatrically in Patagonia, Argentina. Ornitol. Neotrop 19: 553 – 563 4. Bush, A.O., Aho, J. (1990): Concluding remarks. In: Esch, G., Bush, A., Aho, J. (Eds) Parasite communities patterns and processes London, UK: Chapman and Hall, pp. 321 – 325 5. Bush, A.O., Laferty, K.D., Lotz, J.M., Shostak, A.W. (1997): Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al revisited. J. Parasitol 83: 575 – 583
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献
|
|