ECTOPARASITIC LOAD OF BLUE-FRONTED PARROT(AMAZONA AESTIVA, PSITTACIDAE) NESTLINGS

IGOR BERKUNSKY; ANAHÍ FORMOSO; ROSANA ARAMBURÚ

ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL

NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 2005 vol. 16 p. 573 - 578

1075-4377

Ectoparasites are an important cause of mortality, morbidity, and/or reduced fecundity in birds. The objective of this work was to describe the ectoparasitic fauna of the nest- ling population of this parrot species, and to determine the prevalence, abundance, and degree of dispersion of such species. This study was carried out during December and January 2003, 2004 and 2005 at Loro Hablador Natural Reserve (Chaco Province, Argentina). A total of 40 Blue Fronted Parrot nests were prospected by climbing trees and 23 feathered nestlings were sampled once to remove ectoparasites using the brushing method. Three species of ectoparasites were found by brushing method: Paragoniocotes heterogenitalis heterogenitalis, Paragoniocotes semicingulatus bolivianus and rnithonyssus bursa(Acarina: Macronyssidae), and Triatoma infestans(Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) was found by nest prospection. Out of 23 nests, 17 were infested (74%).Paragoniocotes h. heterogenitalis was the most prevalent and abundant species.