Helmintofauna de Phimosus infuscatus Lichtenstein, 1823 (Pelecaniformes: Threskiornithidae) no extremo sul do Brasil

Abstract

Parasites are a highly diverse group, which use other individuals to complete their life cycles. Birds are definitive hosts for a range of parasites, many of which are still unknown. Due to lack of information on the helminth fauna of Phimosus infuscatus the goal of this study was to investigate helminth parasites of this bird in southern Brazil. We have examined 30 birds from Pelotas, Capão do Leão and Rio Grande municipalities. The procedures of collect, preparation and identification of helminth followed specific bibliography. We have analyzed the set of helminth using rates of prevalence (P), mean intensity (MI) e mean abundance (MA). Furthermore we have studied the histopathology of two proventriculus infected by roundworms. The helminth fauna of P. infuscatus was constituted by Nematoda: Hystrichis acanthocephalicus, Dioctophyme renale, Porrocaecum heteropterum, Baruscapillaria sp., Aproctella carinii, Paradeletrocephalus minor and Syngamus Cyathostoma phenisci; Digenea: Euparyphium sp., Tanaisia valida and Athesmia sp.; and Cestoda: Megalacanthus sp. The helminths more prevalent were: H. acanthocephalicus, P. heteropterum, Megalacanthus sp. and Euparyphium sp. Common species in set of helminths from males and females host were H. acanthocephalicus, P. heteropterum, Baruscapillaria sp., Euparyphium sp. and Megalacanthus sp. However, H. acanthocephalicus was expressively more prevalent in female hosts. Hystrichis acanthocephalicus induced a strong inflammatory response in the proventriculus. We made the first report, in Brazil, of S. C. phenisci. On the other hand Euparyphium, T. valida, Athesmia sp., S. C. phenisci, A. carinii, P. minor, D. renale (larvae), Baruscapillaria sp., and Megalacanthus sp. are reported by the first time in P. infuscatus.