Unintentional parasite conservation success: chewing lice recovered from Crested Ibis, Nipponia nippon, in breeding program facilities in Shaanxi, China

Chewing lice of Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) and diversity of louse-host associations of birds in reed beds in Slovakia

“…A total of 33 louse-host associations were found, which represented more than 1/2 of the known louse-host associations (n = 56) for these 26 bird species examined within their range of distribution [36,40]. Most birds, i.e., 341 (90.5%, n = 377), showed only very light (1-10 lice/host; 76.7%) to light infestations (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) The majority of birds, i.e., 332 (88%, n = 377), were parasitized by only one species of chewing louse; the co-occurrence of two species of lice was recorded from only 43 birds. In 38 cases, co-occurrence of one ischnoceran and one amblyceran louse species was found, in four cases two species of ischnoceran lice were recorded, and in only one case co-inhabitance of two species of amblyceran lice was recorded (Table 1).…”

“…The present study also demonstrated the importance of accurate identification of parasites, especially on rarely examined and endangered species, where the knowledge of parasite diversity can be useful in their conservation programs. Moreover, Gustafsson et al [16] suggested that parasites on endangered hosts, especially those that are host-specific, should also be treated as endangered. Panurus biarmicus is evaluated as Near Threatened in Slovakia [10], so if we adopt the idea of Gustafsson et al [16], then both louse species on this host, but especially Me.…”

“…Moreover, Gustafsson et al [16] suggested that parasites on endangered hosts, especially those that are host-specific, should also be treated as endangered. Panurus biarmicus is evaluated as Near Threatened in Slovakia [10], so if we adopt the idea of Gustafsson et al [16], then both louse species on this host, but especially Me. brelihi, may be considered to have the same conservation status.…”