Checklist of the parasites of the black-necked swan, Cygnus melanocoryphus (Aves: Anatidae), with new records from Chile

Abstract

Black-necked swans (Cygnus melanocoryphus) are endemic to the southern cone of South America. Their range extends from Brazil and Paraguay south to Argentina and Chile. A total of 16 parasite species were collected from 7 swans from the Biobio region, Chile, of which 12 are new records for Chile and 11 represent new host records, Echinostoma trivolvis, Paranomostomum sp., Microsomacanthus sp., Nadejdolepis sp., Retinometra sp., Avioserpens sp., Capillaria skrjabini, Ingrassia cygni, Anatoecus penicillatus, A. icterodes and A. keymeri. A checklist is presented that summarizes sites of infections, localities, life cycles and their intermediate hosts (if known), and the pertinent references to demonstrate the wide diversity of parasites of black-necked swans. Our review of the existing literature (23 publications) along with our own records provided information on a total of 18 families and 27 genera, including 33 described species (some only identified to genus), of which 11 were recorded only in Chile (8 endoparasites and 3 ectoparasites), and 6 only in Argentina (4 endoparasites and 2 ectoparasites). Five parasites are known only from captive swans in European zoos. Parasites recorded from C. melanocoryphus include 23 helminths and 10 ectoparasites (one leech and 9 arthropods).

Gastrointestinal helminths and related histopathological lesions in black-necked swans Cygnus melancoryphus from the Carlos Anwandter Nature Sanctuary, Southern Chile

“…As was noted in previous studies E. vogelsangi is a parasite from the gizzard (GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al, 2010;AGÜERO et al, 2016;VALENZUELA et al, 2018), both under the koilin layer of the gastric pads, as well as in the muscle wall. In South America, this parasite seems to be restricted to the black-necked swan, reported in Argentina, Brazil (MCDONALD, 1969;FEDYNICH & THOMAS, 2008;AGÜERO et al, 2016), and Chile (GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al, 2010;VALENZUELA et al, 2018). Present study is the first to provide information about pathology caused by this parasite.…”

“…Additional capillarid species have been recorded in C. melancoryphus from Chile: Capillaria sp. and Capillaria skrjabini (Lubimova, 1947) Moravec, 1982(GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al, 2010VALENZUELA et al, 2018). There are no data regarding the pathogenesis of C. pudendotecta; however, there are data for other cecal capillarids, including Capillaria phasianina Kotlan, 1940, which caused generalized typhlitis with worms penetrating the mucosa with infiltration of heterophiles and lymphocytes, and also fibrosis and necrosis of the mucosa (PINTO et al, 2004).…”

“…On the other hand, B. obsignata has been recorded only in the intestines of C. melancoryphus from Brazil, except for a report from Poland. Other records include C. atratus and C. olor from Asia, Europe, and North America (TRAVASSOS, 1915;WAKELIN, 1963;MCDONALD, 1969;PAPAZAHARIADOU et al, 2008;GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al, 2010). The high prevalence recorded for both capillarids could be explained by the fact that these birds prefer to forage in low-depth areas (CORTI & SCHLATTER, 2002), thus reaching infective eggs in the sediment.…”

“…There is scarce knowledge regarding the endoparasites that affect waterfowl from Chile, with only three species studied to date; Anas georgica Gmelin, 1789, Chloephaga picta Gmelin, 1789 and C. melancoryphus (SCHLATTER et al, 1991;GONZÁLEZ et al, 2005;DRAGO et al, 2007;HINOJOSA-SÁEZ et al, 2009;GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al, 2010;VALENZUELA et al, 2018). However, none of these studies contemplated adopting a histopathological approach related to parasites.…”

Gastrointestinal and ectoparasites of plumbeous rail, Pardirallus sanguinolentus (Aves: Rallidae) in Central Chile

“…The parasites were in the final portion of the small intestine and a few were identified in the caecum. These parasites have a worldwide distribution and there are several records of its existence in Chile (e.g., HINOJOSA-SÁEZ & GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA, 2005;GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al, 2010;VALDEBENITO et al, 2015). Among all members of this genus, Capillaria fulicae Pavlov & Borgarenko (1959) is often found in rallid birds from North America (KINSELLA, 1973;KINSELLA et al, 1973).…”