Abstract
The neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) breeding colony of the Rio Cruces Nature Sanctuary and Ramsar site was surveyed for nematode parasites in southern Chile. Moribund chicks (n=128) of different ages were inspected for anchored nematodes using complete guts. We tested if chicks harbored the same parasites as the adults feeding them. Besides the known Contracaecum rudolphii, third or fourth stage larvae of Pseudoterranova sp. and Anisakis (type I and II) were obtained in this waterbird species for the first time. Most parasites were located in the stomach and C. rudolphii was the dominant species. The prevalence and mean intensity of C. rudolphii infections and the prevalence of Anisakis type I larvae were significantly less (P < 0.05) in the youngest age group of the birds. The prevalence of Pseudoterranova sp. larvae infection was similar among birds of different age. The mean intensity with Pseudoterranova sp. was significantly less (P < 0.05) in younger birds and in Anisakis type I it was similar in different age groups.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to E. Jimenez for his help during field work with the Olivaceus cormorant breeding colony. This study was supported partially by Grant 200224 from Dirección de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Universidad Austral de Chile (P Torres) and the Volkswagen-Stiftung, Germany (P Schlatter). CONAF gave permits to study within the Sanctuary, and SAG for collecting and handling chick cormorants.
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Torres, P., Ortega, J. & Schlatter, R. Nematode parasites of the digestive tract in Neotropic cormorant chicks (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) from the River Cruces Ramsar site in southern Chile. Parasitol Res 97, 103–107 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1372-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1372-0