A new species of Microtetrameres (Nematoda, Tetrameridae) parasitizing Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves, Accipitridae) from northeastern Argentina

Helminth and ectoparasitic faunas of the Harris's hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae), in Chile: new data on host-parasite associations for Neotropical raptors

Birds of prey harbor a wide spectrum of various parasites, mostly with a heteroxenous life cycle. However, most reports on their parasites come from Europe. Although the Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is a widespread species in America, parasitological surveys on this hawk are mostly focused on coprological findings and ectoparasites, with poor attention paid to helminths. The aim of this study was to gather new and additional data on host-parasite associations for the Harris's hawk. Twenty-nine birds from central and southern Chile were necropsied. Further, nine birds from a rehabilitation center and 22 museum specimens were inspected for ectoparasites. Sixty-eight percent of birds hosted at least one parasite species. Four lice species, one mite species and eight helminth species (five nematodes, two platyhelminthes and one acanthocephalan) were recorded. Parasitic lice Colpocephalum nanum and Nosopon chanabense, and a nematode Cyathostoma (Hovorkonema) americana were recorded for the first time in raptors from the Neotropics. A feather mite, Pseudalloptinus sp., nematodes, Physaloptera alata and Microtetrameres sp., and a trematode Neodiplostomim travassosi, were recorded for the first time in Chile. The presence of diverse heteroxenous helminths reported here in the Harris's hawk could be explained by the generalist diet of this raptor.

NEW RECORDS OF NEMATODES IN THE YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO COCCYZUS AMERICANUS (CUCULIFORMES: CUCULIDAE) BASED ON A MIGRANT SPECIMEN FOUND IN BRAZIL

The yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, is a threatened passerine bird native to North America that migrates to overwinter in South America. Although migratory birds have drawn broad attention, given their assumed role in the long-distance dispersal of parasites, studies on the helminth fauna of this cuculid are scarce. In the present study, nematodes found in the gastrointestinal tract of a specimen of C. americanus found in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, were characterized morphologically. Five species of gastrointestinal nematodes belonging to 4 families were identified: Synhimantus (Dispharynx) nasuta (Rudolphi, 1819) and Synhimantus (Dispharynx) resticulaCanavan, 1929 (Acuariidae), Microtetrameres sp. (Tetrameridae), and Cyrnea piayaeSandground, 1929 (Habronematidae) and Subulura halli Barreto, 1918 (Subuluridae). Except for Microtetrameres sp., all other nematodes are reported in this host for the first time. Although it is difficult to accurately determine the geographical origin of infections, it is important to note that Sy. (D.) resticula and Su. halli are reported for the first time in Brazil. Additionally, the absence of the former species infecting hosts where the widespread and generalist Sy. (D.) nasuta was found may indicate that Sy. (D.) resticula have either been overlooked in previous studies or that this nematode is rare indeed. Finally, the geographical distribution of Su. halli is greatly expanded and now includes the Americas. Aspects related to the dispersion of these parasites, both in migrating and native hosts, are briefly discussed.