Parasitic helminth worms of Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) and Whith-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) of Patagonia, Argentina

CAPASSO, S.; DIAZ, J. I.

Paracas

Otro; VII Reunión del Grupo de Aves Playeras del Hemisferio Occidental; 2017

WHSG; CORNIDI

Although the communities of helminth worms that are parasitic to migratory birds have been the object of various studies across the world, knowledge about these parasites in South America is still scarce. It is possible that the species richness and structure of parasitic helminth communities reflect differential use of environments and variation in the availability of food resources for different bird populations. The objective of this work is to provide the first list of parasitic helminths of Baird?s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) and White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) and contribute to the knowledge of endoparasites associated with nearctic shorebirds in the non-breeding areas of the southern hemisphere. A total of 44 C. bairdii and 50 C. fuscicollis (Scolopacidae) were collected in coastal marine and continental wetlands during their austral migration in Argentinian Patagonia. Birds were analyzed and the recovered helminths quantified and preserved in alcohol for study under various techniques (e.g., optical microscope, histological sections, scanning electron microscopy). A total of 13 families and 21 genera of helminths were identified in these two host species. Analysis of our results indicates that richness, prevalence and intensity of infection are higher in C. bairdii than in C. fuscicollis. The structure of the helminth communities reflects a differential use of environments, suggesting that C. bairdii frequents more diverse environments and has a more varied diet than C. fuscicollis, receiving contributions from marine, as well as freshwater and terrestrial prey.176 | 7ma Reunión del gru