Subcutaneous Strigea sp. (Diplostomoidea: Strigeidae) metacercariae in Rallidae (Gruiformes) from the neotropical region

Authors

  • José Junior dos Santos Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Laboratório de Parasitologia de Animais Silvestres (LAPASIL), Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário S/N, CEP 96160-000, Capão do Leão, RS, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3910-0901
  • Carolina Silveira Mascarenhas Instituto Federal Sul-rio-grandense (IFSul), Campus Pelotas, Praça Vinte de Setembro, 455, Centro, CEP 96015-360, RS, Brazil.
  • Gertrud Müller Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Laboratório de Parasitologia de Animais Silvestres (LAPASIL), Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário S/N, CEP 96160-000, Capão do Leão, RS, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2213-6721

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24039/rnh20231721694

Keywords:

Digenea, Pardirallus maculatus, Pardirallus sanguinolentus, plumbeous rail, spotted rail

Abstract

The life cycle of species belonging to Strigea remains complex and poorly understood, especially in the Neotropical region, where information about their intermediate hosts is scarce. Rallidae birds are known for their adaptability to aquatic and semi-aquatic environments since they exhibit ability to disperse and adjust to a wide range of ecological conditions. In this study, we examined seventeen specimens of Pardirallus maculatus  (Boddaert, 1783) and one of Pardirallus sanguinolentus (Swainson, 1838) collected in southern Brazil in search for Strigea sp. metacercariae. Metacercariae occurred in 11.1% (2/18) of birds with infection intensity of 12 (Strigea sp. 2) and 28 (Strigea sp. 1) helminths found in P. sanguinolentus and P. maculatus, respectively. Metacercariae were found exclusively in the pectoralis muscle region, beneath subcutaneous tissue. These findings suggest the potential that Rallidae birds have to act as intermediate hosts of Strigea sp. in that region. They are reinforced by previous observation of small aquatic birds which were identified as prey of Falconiformes (definitive hosts). Thus, our study provides novel information that may assist further research that aims at expanding our understanding of the life cycle of Strigea sp. and at enhancing our knowledge of biodiversity by revealing new geographic distribution and intermediate hosts.

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Published

2023-12-19

How to Cite

dos Santos, J. J. ., Mascarenhas, C. S. ., & Müller, G. . (2023). Subcutaneous Strigea sp. (Diplostomoidea: Strigeidae) metacercariae in Rallidae (Gruiformes) from the neotropical region. Neotropical Helminthology, 17(2), 265–270. https://doi.org/10.24039/rnh20231721694

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Notas Científicas