Seasonal and demographical variation in intestinal helminth infection of greywing francolin
TL;DR: Nematodes were confined to the caeca where they were present in high numbers throughout the year with two peaks during June-August and November-January.
Abstract: Summary Little, R.M., Verster, A. & Crowe, T.M. 1993. Seasonal and demographical variation in intestinal helminth infection of Greywing Francolin. Ostrich 64:178-181. The proportion of the population carrying intestinal parasites (prevalence of infection) and the mean number of parasites per host within the host population (worm burden) for 312 Greywing Francolin Fran-colinus africanus were recorded on the Stormberg Plateau, eastern Cape Province, during April 1989-De-cember 1990. Most Greywing (86%) had helminths in their small intestine or caeca. Variation in levels of helminth infection (i.e. both prevalence and burdens) was independent of host sex. Nematodes were confined to the caeca where they were present in high numbers throughout the year with two peaks during June-August and November-January. The prevalence and worm burdens of nematodes were independent of host age Nematodes were more prevalent than cestodes. The prevalence and number of cestodes in the small intestine were highest during Septem...
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TL;DR: Female guineafowl had significantly higher intensities of infection than males, especially concerning M. gallinarum, S. dentigera and N. numida and the nematode Gongylonema congolense, and the recovery of the cestode Retinometra sp.
Abstract: Gastrointestinal tracts from 48 helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris), five Swainson's spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) and a single Orange River francolin (Scleroptila levaillantoides) were examined for helminth parasites. Twelve species of helminths were found in helmeted guineafowl, comprising six nematodes, five cestodes and a single acanthocephalan. Six species of nematodes were recovered from Swainson's spurfowl and a single nematode was recovered from the Orange River francolin. First-year guineafowl had more than twice the intensity of infection than did adult guineafowl, particularly regarding the acanthocephalan Mediorhynchus gallinarum, the caecal nematodes Subulura dentigera and S. suctoria, and the cestodes Octopetalum numida, Hymenolepis cantaniana and Numidella numida. Female guineafowl had significantly higher intensities of infection than males, especially concerning M. gallinarum, S. dentigera and N. numida and the nematode Gongylonema congolense. The recovery of the cestode Retinometra sp. from helmeted guineafowl constitutes a new host-parasite record.
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Cites background from "Seasonal and demographical variatio..."
...Additionally, Little et al. (1993) showed that cestode infection in greywing francolin (Scleroptila africanus) was lowest in winter and also attributed this to their seasonally variable diet....
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...Little et al. (1993) also found no significant difference between age and sex classes in the prevalence of helminth infection in greywing francolin....
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TL;DR: The first helminthological and epidemiological study in Sindh, Pakistan is presented in this article, where two commonly found francolins species of the region; Francolinus francolinus (Black Francolin) and F. pondicerianus (Grey Francolin), were examined for helminthes fauna.
Abstract: Francolins are among the very gregarious variety of game birds severely infected by various parasites that may cause an important source for infection transmission in humans by eating them very fondly in the country. During this study, two commonly found francolins species of the region; Francolinus francolinus (Black Francolin) and F. pondicerianus (Grey Francolin), were examined for helminthes fauna. The study deals with the primary survey of helminthic infection occur in the francolin birds (Phasianidae: Perdicinae) with reference to their forage in gut content. It is the first helminthological and epidemiological study in Sindh, Pakistan. At present, a total of 20 birds were examined, out of which 17 were found infected with cestode larvae of two species of genus Cotugnia and genus Raillietina, one species of trematode, Prosthogonimus potentially new species; one new species of acanthocephalan, Mediorhynchus francolinae sp. nov.; one species of nematode, Subulura brumpti ( Lopez-Neyra, 1922 ) were recovered, with new host records. The forage content and comparative incidence of helminth species were also observed and discussed in the current study, which revealed the high prevalence of infection in grey francolins than that of black francolin. The mean intensity of infection relative to the forage in guts of hosts was found significant (P
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TL;DR: Captive flocks of red jungle fowl experimentally infected with the intestinal nematode Ascaridia galli were used to test Hamilton and Zuk's hypothesis that parasites adversely affect male secondary sex characters and that females prefer unparasitized over parasitized males and that parasites have a disproportionately larger effect on ornamental traits.
Abstract: Captive flocks of red jungle fowl ( Gallus gallus ) experimentally infected with the intestinal nematode Ascaridia galli were used to test Hamilton and Zuk's (1982 ) hypothesis that parasites adversely affect male secondary sex characters and that females prefer unparasitized over parasitized males. Infected chicks grew more slowly than uninfected controls, with the effect particularly pronounced on comb length rather than tarsus length or body weight. At sexual maturity, infected roosters had duller combs and eyes, shorter combs and tail feathers, and paler hackle feathers than control roosters. In experimental mate choice tests, females preferred unparasitized over parasitized roosters by about 2: 1, and an analysis of covariance revealed that the hens were using the traits on which the two groups differed to make their mate choice decisions. Finally, in a test of an extension of the Hamilton and Zuk hypothesis, control and infected males were not distinguishable based on non sexually-selected characters such as bill size, suggesting that parasites have a disproportionately larger effect on ornamental traits.
283 citations
TL;DR: Breeding success showed a significant, negative correlation with parasite numbers in old grouse, both within and between areas, and the role of parasitic nematodes in the population cycles of red grouse is discussed in relation to current models and previous studies.
Abstract: (1) The breeding success of female red grouse treated with an anthelmintic to reduce an infection of the nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis was compared over a period of 3 years with that of a control group. Treatment significantly increased the production of young per female in all years. (2) Breeding success showed a significant, negative correlation with parasite numbers in old grouse, both within and between areas (in 4 out of 5 years). (3) The role of parasitic nematodes in the population cycles of red grouse are discussed in relation to current models and previous studies.
253 citations
TL;DR: This community, while not characterized by high species richness, is readily colonized and exhibits evidence of inter- and intraspecific interaction, which does not conform to current models of parasite community structure.
Abstract: We found 12 species of intestinal helminths in 158 Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in northern Florida (1983-1984). Of these, six species were common: the cestodes Raillietina cesticillus and R. colinia, the cecal nematodes Heterakis isolonche and Trichostrongylus tennis, the proventricular nematode Dispharynx nasuta, and the gizzard nematode Cyrnea colini. Four pairs of species had statistically significant numerical associations: the cestodes were negatively associated, and positive associations existed between the cecal nematodes, R. cesticillus-D. nasuta, and H. isolonche-C. colini. When either cecal nematode was present in high densities, H. isolonche shifted its location, indicating a possible negative interaction. There were some intraspecific relationships be- tween cestode density and mean location, location variance, and biomass. In addition, R. cesticillus biomass was negatively correlated with R. colinia density. This community, while not characterized by high species richness, is readily colonized and exhibits evidence of inter- and intraspecific interaction. It does not conform to current models of parasite community structure.
57 citations