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Gastrointestinal and external parasites of Enicognathus ferrugineus and Enicognathus leptorhynchus (Aves, Psittacidae) in Chile

Parasitas gastrointestinais e externos de Enicognathus ferrugineus e Enicognathus leptorhynchus (Aves, Psittacidae) do Chile

Abstract

Parasite species are important components of biodiversity, as they provide valuable information about host health, evolutionary relationships, population structures, trophic interactions, the existence of environmental stresses, and climatic conditions. With the aim of describing the parasites associated with parrots of the genus Enicognathus Gray 1840 from central Chile, thirteen austral parakeets, Enicognathus ferrugineus, and five slender-billed parakeets, E. leptorhynchus, were examined between September 2007 and March 2014. The prevalence of ectoparasites and endoparasites was 88.9% and 22.2%, respectively. On eleven of the E. ferrugineus (84.6%) analyzed, and on all of the E. leptorhynchus analyzed (100%), five feather mite species (Pararalichus hastifolia, Genoprotolichus major, Protonyssus sp., Fainalges sp., and Eurydiscalges sp.) were collected. On ten E. ferrugineus (76.9%) and two E. leptorhynchus (40%), the chewing lice Heteromenopon macrurum, Psittacobrossus patagoni, and Paragoniocotes enicognathidis were collected. The nematode Capillaria plagiaticia was collected from three E. ferrugineus (23.1%), and the nematode Ascaridia hermaphrodita was found in one E. leptorhynchus (20%). The presence of C. plagiaticia, Protonyssus sp., Fainalges sp., and Eurydiscalges sp. from the two Enicognathus spp. are new records for Chile and represent new parasite-host associations.

Keywords:
Birds; mites; acarina; Phthiraptera; nematoda; parasites

Resumo

Os parasitas são componentes importantes da biodiversidade, uma vez que fornecem informação valiosa sobre a saúde do hospedeiro, relações evolutivas, estruturas populacionais, interações tróficas, a existência de pressões ambientais e das condições climáticas. Com o objetivo de descrever parasitas associada com papagaios do gênero Enicognathus (Gray 1840) no Chile central, foram examinados entre setembro de 2007 e março de 2014 treze periquitos austrais Enicognathus ferrugineus e cinco periquitos de bico fino E. leptorhynchus. A prevalência dos ecto e endoparasitas foi de 88,9% e 22,2% respectivamente. Em onze E. ferrugineus (84,6%) e na totalidade dos E. leptorhynchus analisados (100%), coletaram-se cinco espécies de ácaros de pena (Pararalichus hastifolia, Genoprotolichus major, Protonyssus sp., Fainalges sp. e Eurydiscalges sp.); os piolhos Heteromenopon macrurum, Psittacobrossus patagoni, e Paragoniocotes enicognathidis foram coletados de dez E. ferrugineus (76,9%) e dois E. leptorhynchus (40%). Por outro lado, os nematódeos Capillaria plagiaticia e Ascaridia hermaphrodita foram isolados de três E. ferrugineus (23,1%) e de um E. leptorhynchus (20%). O achado de C. plagiaticia, Protonyssus sp., Fainalges sp. e Eurydiscalges sp. parasitando Enicognathus spp. corresponde ao primeiro relato dessas espécies de parasitas para no Chile e representam novas associações parasita-hospedeiro.

Palavras-chave:
Pássaro; ácaro; acarina; Phthiraptera; nematoda; parasita

Introduction

The genus Enicognathus Gray, 1840 (Aves: Psittaciformes) is comprised of two species: the slender-billed parakeet, E. leptorhynchus Müller, 1776; and the austral parakeet, E. ferrugineus King, 1831, both of which are endemic to Chile. The former has been distributed from the Valparaíso Region (33° 3’ 47” S, 71° 38’ 22” W) to the Los Lagos Region (41° 28’ 18” S, 72° 56’ 12” W) (2004). Conversely, the austral parakeet inhabits both Chile and Argentina, ranging from the Metropolitan Region (33° 26’ 16” S, 70° 39’ 01” W) to Cape Horn (Region of Magallanes, 54° 56’ 00” S, 67° 37’ 00” W) in Chile, and from the province of Neuquén (38° 57’ 06” S, 68° 04’ 28” W) to Tierra del Fuego (54° 21’ 43” S, 67° 38’ 17” W) in Argentina; it is the parrot with the most southerly distribution in the world (DÍAZ, 2012Díaz S. Biología y conservación de la cachaña (Enicognathus ferrugineus) en Argentina. Hornero 2012; 27(1): 17-25.).

These birds are of special concern for conservation given their recent population declines during the last century (COLLAR, 1997Collar NJ. Family Psittacidae (parrots). In: del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J, editors. Handbook of the birds of the world. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions; 1997. p. 280-477. vol. 4. Sandgrouse to cuckoos.; DÍAZ, 2012Díaz S. Biología y conservación de la cachaña (Enicognathus ferrugineus) en Argentina. Hornero 2012; 27(1): 17-25.; GOODALL et al., 1957Goodall JD, Johnson AW, Philippi RA. Las aves de Chile: su conocimiento y sus costumbres. 1st ed. Buenos Aires: Impreso Platt Establecimientos Gráficos; 1957.). This situation renders these birds a priority, especially with regards to acquiring knowledge about their biology – including their parasites; nevertheless, scientific literature on this topic is scarce (CARNEIRO et al., 2012Carneiro APB, Jiménez JE, White TH Jr. Post-fledging habitat selection by the Slender-billed Parakeet (Enicognathus leptorhynchus) in a fragmented agricultural landscape of southern Chile. Condor 2012; 114(1): 166-172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/cond.2011.100127.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/cond.2011.1001...
). In addition, because of their low population sizes, only those birds that have died by natural or accidental deaths can be examined for endoparasites. Previous investigations into the parasitic fauna associated with parrots of the genus Enicognathus revealed three major groupings of parasites: two roundworm species (Nematoda: Ascaridiidae); three chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera); and two feather mites (Arachnida: Acarina: Astigmata). The nematode Ascaridia hermaphrodita Froelich, 1789, was found in slender-billed parakeets in Chile (GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al., 2007González-Acuña D, Fabry M, Nascimento AA, Tebaldi JH. Death of two slender-billed parakeet (King) (Enicognathus leptorhynchusAscaridia hermaphrodita) (Aves, Psittacidae) by (Froelich, 1789, Railliet & Henry, 1914) at the National Zoo of Santiago, Chile. Arq Bras Med Vet Zootec 2007; 59(2): 539-540. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352007000200044.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352007...
) and A. platyceri Hartwich and Tscherner, 1979 in austral parakeets in Germany (HARTWICH & TSCHERNER, 1979Hartwich G, Tscherner W. n.sp., a new species of nematode from parrots. Ascaridia platyceriAngew Parasitol 1979; 20(2): 63-67. PMid:507444.). Both were found in birds kept in captivity. The chewing lice species Heteromenopon macrurum Eichler, 1952 was recorded on austral parakeets in Argentina and Chile (EICHLER, 1952Eichler W. Mallophagen-synopsis. XV. Genus Pseudomenopon.Zool Anz 1952; 148(1-2): 30-40.), and on slender-billed parakeets in Chile (CICCHINO & GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA, 2009Cicchino A, González-Acuña D. Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from parrots and parakeets of the genera Cyanoliseus and Enicognathus in Chile and Argentina, with descriptions of a new species. Zootaxa 2009; 2117: 37-42.). Psittacobrossus patagoni Price and Beer, 1968 was recorded on an Austral parakeet in Argentina and Chile (PRICE & BEER, 1968Price RD, Beer JR. The genus (Mallophaga; Menoponidae) of the Neotropical Psittaciformes. PsittacobrosusAnn Entomol Soc Am 1968; 61(2): 261-276. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/61.2.261.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/61.2.261...
); Paragoniocotes enicognathidis Cicchino & González-Acuña, 2009 was found on austral parakeets in Argentina and on slender-billed parakeets in Chile (CICCHINO & GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA, 2009Cicchino A, González-Acuña D. Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from parrots and parakeets of the genera Cyanoliseus and Enicognathus in Chile and Argentina, with descriptions of a new species. Zootaxa 2009; 2117: 37-42.). The pterolichid feather mite Pararalichus hastifolia (MÉGNIN & TROUESSART, 1884Mégnin P, Trouessart EL. Les Sarcoptides plumicoles. J Micrographie 1884; 8: 211-219.) was collected from austral and slender-billed parakeets (ATYEO, 1989bAtyeo WT. Pararalichus gen.n. (Acarina, Pterolichidae) from New World parrots (Aves, Psittacidae). Zool Scr 1989b; 18(2): 331-346. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.1989.tb00459.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.19...
), while Genoprotolichus major (FAVETTE & TROUESSART, 1904Favette J, Trouessart E. Monographie du genre Protolichus (Trt) et revision des Sarcoptides plumicoles (Analgesinae) qui vivent sur les perroquets. Mém Soc Zool France 1904; 17: 120-166.), first described as Protolichus, was found on austral parakeets, both of which were in Chile.

The objective of the present study is to document new records of gastrointestinal and external parasites for both Enicognathus species from central Chile.

Materials and Methods

Between September 2007 and March 2014, thirteen austral parakeets and five slender-billed parakeets from central Chile were received by the School of Veterinary Science of the University of Concepción (Concepción, Chile). Their causes of death were vehicle collisions and poaching. The birds were stored individually at –12 °C until their analysis. The date of reception, provenance, coordinates, and date of analysis for each individual bird are found in Table 1. Lice and mites were collected by visual inspection of feathers. Ectoparasites were preserved in 70% ethanol, and lice were cleared and mounted in Canada balsam (PALMA, 1978Palma RL. Slide-mounting of lice: a detailed description of Canada balsam technique. NZ Entomol 1978; 6(4): 432-436. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00779962.1978.9722313.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00779962.1978....
; PRICE et al., 2003Price RD, Hellenthal RA, Palma RL, Johnson KP, Clayton DH. The chewing lice: world checklist and biological overview. Springfield: Illinois Natural History Survey Special Publication; 2003.). Mites were cleared in Nesbitt’s solution for 72 hours at sub-boiling temperature, and they were finally mounted in Berlese’s medium (KRANTZ & WALTER, 2009Krantz GW, Walter DE. A manual of acarology. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press; 2009.). To identify lice, the keys and descriptions of Eichler (1952)Eichler W. Mallophagen-synopsis. XV. Genus Pseudomenopon.Zool Anz 1952; 148(1-2): 30-40., Price & Beer (1967Price RD, Beer JR. The genus (Mallophaga: Menoponidae), with description of a new subgenus and six new species. HeteromenoponAnn Entomol Soc Am 1967; 60(2): 328-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/60.2.328.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/60.2.328...
, 1968Price RD, Beer JR. The genus (Mallophaga; Menoponidae) of the Neotropical Psittaciformes. PsittacobrosusAnn Entomol Soc Am 1968; 61(2): 261-276. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/61.2.261.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/61.2.261...
), Castro & Cicchino (1996)Castro D, Cicchino AC. Algunas menoponidae (Insecta - Phthiraptera) de aves bonaerenses. Rev Asoc Cienc Nat Litor 1996; 27(2): 137-140., and Cicchino & González-Acuña (2009)Cicchino A, González-Acuña D. Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from parrots and parakeets of the genera Cyanoliseus and Enicognathus in Chile and Argentina, with descriptions of a new species. Zootaxa 2009; 2117: 37-42. were used. Mites were identified using the keys proposed by Atyeo (1989aAtyeo WT. Aralichus hastifolia (Mégnin and Trouessart), a species of feather mites (Acarina, Pterolichidae) restricted to species of the parrot genus Gray (Aves, Psittacidae). EnicognathusJ Kans Entomol Soc 1989a; 62(3): 329-334., bAtyeo WT. Pararalichus gen.n. (Acarina, Pterolichidae) from New World parrots (Aves, Psittacidae). Zool Scr 1989b; 18(2): 331-346. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.1989.tb00459.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.19...
), Gaud & Atyeo (1996aGaud J, Atyeo W. Feather mites of the world (Acarina, Astigmata): the supraspecific taxa. Part I: text. Tervuren: Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika; 1996a. p. 1-193. vol. 277. Annales du Musee Royal de l Afrique Centrale Serie 8: Sciences Zoologiques., bGaud J, Atyeo W. Feather mites of the world (Acarina, Astigmata): the supraspecific taxa. Part II: illustrations of feather mite taxa. Tervuren: Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika; 1996b. p. 1-436. vol. 277. Annales du Musee Royal de l Afrique Centrale Serie 8: Sciences Zoologiques.), and Krantz & Walter (2009)Krantz GW, Walter DE. A manual of acarology. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press; 2009.. For endoparasites, the dissection of birds, as well as the collection and preservation of helminthes, followed the methods of Kinsella & Forrester (1972)Kinsella JM, Forrester DJ. Helminths of the Florida duck, Anas platyrhynchos fulvigula.Proc Helminthol Soc Wash 1972; 39(2): 173-176.. The identification of the endoparasites followed the keys of Freitas & Mendonça (1959)Freitas JFT, Mendonça JM. Nota prévia sobre nova parasita de jandaia (Nematoda, Trichuroidea). CapillariaAtas So Biol Rio de 1959; 3(1): 2-3., Yamaguti (1961)Yamaguti S. Systema Helminthum. New York: Interscience Publisher; 1961., and Kajerová et al. (2004)Kajerová V, Baruš V, Literák I. Nematodes from the genus Ascaridia parasitizing psittaciform birds: a review and determination key. Vet Med 2004; 49(6): 217-223.. The terms for prevalence, range, and mean intensity follow Margolis et al. (1982)Margolis L, Esch GW, Holmes JC, Kuris AM, Schad GA. The use of ecological terms in parasitology (report of an ad hoc committee of the American Society of Parasitologists). J Parasitol 1982; 68(1): 131-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3281335.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3281335...
and Bush et al. (1997)Bush AO, Lafferty KD, Lotz JM, Shostak AW. Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. J Parasitol 1997; 83(4): 575-583. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3284227. PMid:9267395.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3284227...
.

Table 1
Date of reception, origin, coordinates and date of analysis of Enicognathus spp.

All of the collected parasite specimens are stored in the collection of the Zoology Laboratory of the School of Veterinary Science of the University of Concepción, Chillán campus.

Results

Endoparasites were found in 22.2% (4/18) (two species of nematodes) and ectoparasites were found on 88.9% (16/18) of the examined birds (there were three species of chewing lice and six species of mites). Tables 2 and 3 summarize the data on the parasites found on the austral and slender-billed parakeets.

Table 2
Summary of ecto- and endoparasites found on Austral parakeets Enicognathus ferrugineus from central Chile.
Table 3
Summary of ecto- and endoparasites found on Slender-billed parakeets Enicognathus leptorhynchus from central Chile.

Two nematode species were found: A. hermaphrodita (Figure 1) was found in slender-billed parakeets, and Capillaria plagiaticia Freitas and Mendonça, 1959 (Figures 2 and 3) in austral parakeets.

Figure 1
Ascaridia hermaphrodita: posterior end of male. Scale: 0.2 mm.
Figure 2
Capillaria plagiaticia: posterior end of male. Scale: 0.1 mm.
Figure 3
Capillaria plagiaticia: vulvar region of female. Scale: 0.1 mm.

Three species of chewing lice (Phthiraptera) – H. macrurum (Figures 4 and 5), P. patagoni (Figure 6), and P. enicognathidis (Figures 7 and 8) – were found on austral parakeets and slender-billed parakeets.

Figure 4
Heteromenopon macrurum: female. Dorsal view. Scale: 0.5 mm.
Figure 5
Heteromenopon macrurum: male. Dorsal view. Scale: 0.5 mm.
Figure 6
Psittacobrossus patagoni: female. Dorsal view. Scale: 0.5 mm.
Figure 7
Paragoniocotes enicognathidis: male. Dorsal view. Scale: 0.5 mm.
Figure 8
Paragoniocotes enicognathidis: female. Dorsal view. Scale: 0.5 mm.

Two species of mites (Astigmata: Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea), P. hastifolia (Figures 9 and 10) and G. major (Figures 11 and 12), and the three genera, Protonyssus sp. (Figures 13 and 14), Fainalges sp. (Figures 15 and 16) and Eurydiscalges sp. (Figures 17 and 18), were found on the two parakeets.

Figure 9
Pararalichus hastifolia: female. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 10
Pararalichus hastifolia: male. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 11
Genoprotolichus major: female. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 12
Genoprotolichus major: male. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 13
Protonyssus sp.: female. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 14
Protonyssus sp.: male. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 15
Fainalges sp.: female. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 16
Fainalges sp.: male. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 17
Eurydiscalges sp.: female. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.
Figure 18
Eurydiscalges sp.: male. Ventral view. Scale: 0.25 mm.

Discussion

Nematoda

Seven species of the genus Ascaridia Dujardin, 1845 (Nematoda: Ascaridiidae) have been reported from the order Psittaciformes. Among these, A. hermaphrodita is one of the most frequently reported in these birds (HODOVÁ et al., 2008Hodová I, Barus V, Tukac V. Note on morphology of two nematode species Ascaridia hermaphrodita and Ascaridia platyceri (Nematoda): scanning electron microscope study. Helminthologia 2008; 45(3): 109-113. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11687-008-0021-4.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11687-008-002...
). Previously, heavy infections of A. hermaphrodita were found in two female slender-billed parakeets that died at the Chilean National Zoo in Santiago (GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al., 2007González-Acuña D, Fabry M, Nascimento AA, Tebaldi JH. Death of two slender-billed parakeet (King) (Enicognathus leptorhynchusAscaridia hermaphrodita) (Aves, Psittacidae) by (Froelich, 1789, Railliet & Henry, 1914) at the National Zoo of Santiago, Chile. Arq Bras Med Vet Zootec 2007; 59(2): 539-540. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352007000200044.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352007...
). This parasite is considered one of the most common parasites found among parrots in captivity (HODOVÁ et al., 2008Hodová I, Barus V, Tukac V. Note on morphology of two nematode species Ascaridia hermaphrodita and Ascaridia platyceri (Nematoda): scanning electron microscope study. Helminthologia 2008; 45(3): 109-113. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11687-008-0021-4.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11687-008-002...
), likely due to the characteristics of this parasite’s life cycle (direct cycles) and the high resistance of its eggs (ATKINSON et al., 2008Atkinson CT, Thomas NJ, Hunter DB. Parasitic diseases of wild birds. Ames: Wiley-Blackwell; 2008.). Hartwich & Tscherner (1979)Hartwich G, Tscherner W. n.sp., a new species of nematode from parrots. Ascaridia platyceriAngew Parasitol 1979; 20(2): 63-67. PMid:507444. also recorded A. platyceri in a captive Austral parakeet in Germany. In this study, A. hermaphrodita was found in the slender-billed parakeets obtained from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, CODEFF (Comité Nacional Pro Defensa de la Fauna y Flora) (Table 1); to date, the presence of this nematode in the wild in Chile has not been confirmed. The high intensity of this parasite in dead birds highlights the need to perform additional studies to determine the importance of this parasite in the ecology of these two types of parakeets.

The nematode C. plagiaticia (Nematoda: Trichuridae) was originally described by Freitas & Mendonça (1959)Freitas JFT, Mendonça JM. Nota prévia sobre nova parasita de jandaia (Nematoda, Trichuroidea). CapillariaAtas So Biol Rio de 1959; 3(1): 2-3. on the basis of samples collected from cactus parakeets, Aratinga (Eupsittula) cactorum caixana Spix, 1824, in Brazil. Capillaria plagiaticia is considered to be specific to psittacids (KAJEROVÁ & BARUS, 2005Kajerová V, Barus V. Psittacine birds (Aves: Psittaciformes) as new hosts of (Nematoda: Capillariidae). Baruscapillaria obsignataActa Vet Brno 2005; 74(4): 571-574. http://dx.doi.org/10.2754/avb200574040571.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2754/avb20057404057...
). The present finding in this study is the first record of this nematode in the austral parakeet, and it also represents its first record in Chile.

Phthiraptera

The genus Heteromenopon Carriker, 1954 (Amblycera: Monoponidae) is comprised of fifteen species of chewing lice that are exclusive to Neotropical psittacids (Psittacinae), and Australian-New Zealand psittacids from the tribes Nestorini (Nestorinae) and Platycercini (Psittacinae) (CICCHINO & GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA, 2009Cicchino A, González-Acuña D. Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from parrots and parakeets of the genera Cyanoliseus and Enicognathus in Chile and Argentina, with descriptions of a new species. Zootaxa 2009; 2117: 37-42.). Nevertheless, H. macrurum was described from Falco sparverius Linneo, 1758 (Falconiformes: Falconidae) and Sterna paradisaea Pontoppidan, 1763 (Charadriiformes: Sternidae) captured in the region of Los Ríos, Chile (MEY et al., 2002Mey E, Masello JF, Quillfeldt P. Chewing lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera) of the Burrowing Parrot Cyanoliseus p. patagonus (Vieillot) from Argentina. Rudolstädter Nat Hist Schr 2002; 4(Suppl): 99-112.; PALMA, 1975Palma RL. Acerca del verdadero hospedador de (Eichler, 1952) (Mallophaga, Menoponidae). Heteromenopon (Heteromenopon) macrurumPhysis 1975; 34(88): 113-115.). However, according to Price & Beer (1967)Price RD, Beer JR. The genus (Mallophaga: Menoponidae), with description of a new subgenus and six new species. HeteromenoponAnn Entomol Soc Am 1967; 60(2): 328-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/60.2.328.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/60.2.328...
, their original descriptions were based on erroneous identification of the hosts. Palma (1975)Palma RL. Acerca del verdadero hospedador de (Eichler, 1952) (Mallophaga, Menoponidae). Heteromenopon (Heteromenopon) macrurumPhysis 1975; 34(88): 113-115. later proposed Myiopsitta monachus monachus Boddaert, 1783 as a true host. Heteromenopon macrurum has been also reported on burrowing parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus Vieillot, 1818 and on the austral parakeet in Argentina and Chile; and on the slender-billed parakeet in Chile (ARAMBURÚ et al., 2003Aramburú R, Calvo S, Alzugaray ME, Cicchino A. Ectoparasitic load of monk parakeet (Psittacidae) nestlings. Myiopsitta monachus, Ornitol Neotrop 2003; 14(3): 415-418.; CICCHINO & GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA, 2009Cicchino A, González-Acuña D. Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from parrots and parakeets of the genera Cyanoliseus and Enicognathus in Chile and Argentina, with descriptions of a new species. Zootaxa 2009; 2117: 37-42.; MEY et al., 2002Mey E, Masello JF, Quillfeldt P. Chewing lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera) of the Burrowing Parrot Cyanoliseus p. patagonus (Vieillot) from Argentina. Rudolstädter Nat Hist Schr 2002; 4(Suppl): 99-112.).

The genus Psittacobrossus Carriker, 1954 (Amblycera: Monoponidae) contains 20 species, all of which are parasites of New World parrots. The description of P. patagoni was based on samples obtained from a burrowing parrot, Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami Olson, 1995 from Angol, Chile (PRICE & BEER, 1968Price RD, Beer JR. The genus (Mallophaga; Menoponidae) of the Neotropical Psittaciformes. PsittacobrosusAnn Entomol Soc Am 1968; 61(2): 261-276. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/61.2.261.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/61.2.261...
). This parasite has also been found on C. p. patagonus in Argentina, and on the austral parakeet in Chile and Argentina (ARAMBURÚ, 2012Aramburú R. Insectos parásitos que afectan a loros de Argentina y métodos para su obtención. Hornero 2012; 27(1): 103-116.; CICCHINO & GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA, 2009Cicchino A, González-Acuña D. Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from parrots and parakeets of the genera Cyanoliseus and Enicognathus in Chile and Argentina, with descriptions of a new species. Zootaxa 2009; 2117: 37-42.). Thus, our finding is the first record of P. patagoni on the slender-billed parakeet.

The genus Paragoniocotes Cummings, 1916 (Ishcnocera: Philopteridae) has more than 30 species (PRICE et al., 2003Price RD, Hellenthal RA, Palma RL, Johnson KP, Clayton DH. The chewing lice: world checklist and biological overview. Springfield: Illinois Natural History Survey Special Publication; 2003.); the majority are exclusive to psittacid hosts (MEY et al., 2002Mey E, Masello JF, Quillfeldt P. Chewing lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera) of the Burrowing Parrot Cyanoliseus p. patagonus (Vieillot) from Argentina. Rudolstädter Nat Hist Schr 2002; 4(Suppl): 99-112.). Paragoniocotes enicognathidis was recently described by Cicchino & González-Acuña (2009)Cicchino A, González-Acuña D. Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from parrots and parakeets of the genera Cyanoliseus and Enicognathus in Chile and Argentina, with descriptions of a new species. Zootaxa 2009; 2117: 37-42. on austral and slender-billed parakeets from Argentina and Chile. Thus, P. enicognathidis has only been recorded on parrots of the genus Enicognathus.

Acari

The mite Pararalichus hastifolia (L Pteroichoidea: Pterolichidae) is considered specific to parrots of the genus Enicognathus (ATYEO, 1989bAtyeo WT. Pararalichus gen.n. (Acarina, Pterolichidae) from New World parrots (Aves, Psittacidae). Zool Scr 1989b; 18(2): 331-346. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.1989.tb00459.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.19...
). This species was originally described by Mégnin & Trouessart (1884)Mégnin P, Trouessart EL. Les Sarcoptides plumicoles. J Micrographie 1884; 8: 211-219. on the austral parakeet and it was named Pterolichus (Pterolichus) hastifolia. Atyeo (1989a)Atyeo WT. Aralichus hastifolia (Mégnin and Trouessart), a species of feather mites (Acarina, Pterolichidae) restricted to species of the parrot genus Gray (Aves, Psittacidae). EnicognathusJ Kans Entomol Soc 1989a; 62(3): 329-334. redescribed this species and assigned it to the genus Aralichus Gaud, 1966; in addition, he found it on the slender-billed parakeet from Chiloé, Chile. Later, Atyeo (1989b)Atyeo WT. Pararalichus gen.n. (Acarina, Pterolichidae) from New World parrots (Aves, Psittacidae). Zool Scr 1989b; 18(2): 331-346. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.1989.tb00459.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.19...
created the genus Pararalichus, and included this species within this category. This genus is associated with various parrots from the New World. Pararalichus hastifolia, as well as all pterolichids, are specialized to inhabit the ventral surface of feathers with large vanes – i.e., the flight and covert feathers of the wing, as well as the tail feathers (MIRONOV & DABERT, 2007Mironov S, Dabert J. Three new feather mite genera of the generic group (Astigmata, Pterolichidae) from parrots (Aves, Psittaciformes) of the Old World. ProtolichusActa Parasitol 2007; 52(4): 386-402. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11686-007-0042-z.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11686-007-004...
).

Mites of the genus Genoprotolichus Gaud and Atyeo, 1996 (Pterolichoidea: Pterolichidae) live on the longest wing feathers of psittacid birds (GAUD & ATYEO, 1996aGaud J, Atyeo W. Feather mites of the world (Acarina, Astigmata): the supraspecific taxa. Part I: text. Tervuren: Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika; 1996a. p. 1-193. vol. 277. Annales du Musee Royal de l Afrique Centrale Serie 8: Sciences Zoologiques., bGaud J, Atyeo W. Feather mites of the world (Acarina, Astigmata): the supraspecific taxa. Part II: illustrations of feather mite taxa. Tervuren: Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika; 1996b. p. 1-436. vol. 277. Annales du Musee Royal de l Afrique Centrale Serie 8: Sciences Zoologiques.) and they are comprised in four species. Genoprotolichus major was described by Favette & Trouessart (1904)Favette J, Trouessart E. Monographie du genre Protolichus (Trt) et revision des Sarcoptides plumicoles (Analgesinae) qui vivent sur les perroquets. Mém Soc Zool France 1904; 17: 120-166. from austral parakeets from Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, Chile; it was further recorded in this country on the subspecies Enicognathus ferrugineus minor Chapman, 1919 in Mafil, Valdivia, and Melinka, Chiloé (CUERVO & PÉREZ, 2009Cuervo N, Pérez TM. Primer registro de (Acari: Pterolichidae) para Cuba con la descripción de sus estadios inmaduros. Genoprotolichus eurycnemisPoeyana 2009; 497: 9-13.). The present study represents the first record of G. major on the slender-billed parakeet.

The feather mite genera Protonyssus Trouessart, 1916, and Fainalges Gaud and Berla, 1964 (Analgoidea: Xolalgidae) belong to the subfamily Ingrassiinae, and they represent two of three ingrassiine genera known to infest birds of the order Psittaciformes (GAUD & ATYEO, 1981Gaud J, Atyeo WT. La famille Xolalgidae Dubinin, nouveau statut (Sarcoptiformes plumicoles, Analgoidea). I. Sous-famille Ingrassiinae, n. subfam. Acarologia 1981; 22: 63-79.). Fainalges and Protonyssus are exclusively associated with parrots, while species of the third genus, Dubininia Vassilev, 1958, live on parrots of the Old World and also on birds of the orders Falconiformes and Cuculiformes.

The genus Protonyssus currently includes four species; three of them are known from New World parrots: Protonyssus larva Trouessart, 1885, P. brevis Trouessart, 1885 and P. proctorae Mironov, Dabert and Ehrnsberger, 2005; the fourth species, P. interifolia Trouessart, 1885, was described from Bolbopsittacus lunulatus Scopoli, 1786 from the Philippines (MIRONOV et al., 2005Mironov SV, Dabert J, Ehrnsberger R. Six new feather mite species (Acari: Astigmata) from the carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), an extinct parrot. J Nat Hist 2005; 39(24): 2257-2278. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930400014155.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930400014...
; TROUESSART, 1885Trouessart EL. Note sur le classification des Analgésiens et diagnoses d’espèces et de genres nouveaux. Bulletin de la Société d’Etudes Scientifiques d’Angers 1885; 14: 46-89.).

The genus Fainalges currently includes thirteen species of New World parrots from the genera Aratinga Spix, 1824; Deroptyus Wagler, 1832; and Conuropsis Salvadori, 1891 (MIRONOV et al., 2005Mironov SV, Dabert J, Ehrnsberger R. Six new feather mite species (Acari: Astigmata) from the carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), an extinct parrot. J Nat Hist 2005; 39(24): 2257-2278. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930400014155.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930400014...
; PEREZ, 1995Pérez TM. Seven species of Gaud and Berla (Analgoidea, Xolalgidae) from (Sclater) (Aves, Psittacidae). FainalgesAratinga holochloraZool Scr 1995; 24(3): 203-223. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.1995.tb00400.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.19...
). The genus Fainalges is considered to be restricted to parrots from this part of the world.

The finding of two supposedly new ingrassine species, Protonyssus sp. and Fainalges sp., on the austral and slender-billed parakeets represents new host–parasite associations, both for these birds and in Chile.

The feather mite genus Eurydiscalges Faccini, Atyeo and Gaud, 1976 (Analgoidea: Psoroptoididae) belongs to the subfamily Pandalurinae (FACCINI et al., 1976Faccini JLH, Gaud J, Atyeo WT. Descrição de Eurydiscalges g. n. (Analgidae, Sarcoptiformes), com quatro espécies novas parasitas de Psittacidae (Aves) provenientes da América do Sul. Rev Bras Biol 1976; 36(3): 701-707.; MIRONOV, 2004Mironov SV. Taxonomic notes on four genera of the feather mite subfamily Pandalurinae (Astigmata: Psoroptoididae). Acarina 2004; 12(1): 13-16.) and is restricted to psittaciform hosts. This genus currently includes four species, described by FACCINI et al., 1976Faccini JLH, Gaud J, Atyeo WT. Descrição de Eurydiscalges g. n. (Analgidae, Sarcoptiformes), com quatro espécies novas parasitas de Psittacidae (Aves) provenientes da América do Sul. Rev Bras Biol 1976; 36(3): 701-707., from four parrots of the New World: E.opistoproctus Faccini, Gaud & Atyeo 1976 from Pionites melanocephalus Linnaeus, 1758; E. phalacrus Faccini, Gaud & Atyeo 1976 from Ara severus (Linnaeus, 1758); E. pyrrhurae Faccini, Gaud & Atyeo 1976 from Pyrrhura leucotis Kuhl, 1820; and E. pedanossomae Faccini, Gaud & Atyeo 1976 from Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons Hellmayr, 1905. Thus, the finding of a supposedly new Eurydiscalges sp. on the austral and slender-billed parakeets represents a new host–parasite association for these birds in Chile.

Some feather mite specimens represented by junior preimaginal instars (larvae and protonymphs) were identified only at the family level (Table 2; Pterolichidae gen. sp.). Given the present state of systematics for most feather mite families, the identification of preimaginal instars up to the species and genera level is quite difficult because they are understudied.

Conclusion

The list of ecto- and endoparasites reported from the austral and slender-billed parakeets in Chile includes the following species: Pararalichus hastifolia; G. major; Protonyssus sp.; Fainalges sp.; Eurydiscalges sp.; H. macrurum; Psittacobrosus patagoni; and Paragoniocotes enicognathidis. Additionally, the nematodes C. plagiaticia and Ascaridia platyceri were found in the austral parakeet, while A. hermaphrodita was recorded in the slender-billed parakeet.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Pedro Álvarez, Mabel Mena, Carolina Silva, and Karen Ardiles for their valuable assistance in labors related to the present study. The authors also would like to thank Sebastián Muñoz-Leal for providing Portuguese editorial support. This investigation was funded by the FONDECYT, project number 1130948.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    04 Dec 2015
  • Date of issue
    Oct-Dec 2015

History

  • Received
    14 Aug 2015
  • Accepted
    05 Oct 2015
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