Gizzard Helminths in the Gadwall (Mareca strepera) Wintering Along the Mid-Texas Coast

摘要

We examined the gizzards of 80 hunter-shot gadwalls (Mareca strepera) collected November-January during the 2008-2009 (n = 46) and 2009-2010 (n = 34) hunting seasons at the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area in Brazoria County, Texas, U.S.A., and the Mad Island Wildlife Management Area in Matagorda County, Texas. Three species of nematodes (Amidostomum acutum, Epomidiostomum uncinatum, and Streptocara crassicauda) were found comprising 237 individuals. Epomidiostomum uncinatum was the most prevalent (55%), followed by A. acutum (53%) and S. crassicauda (1%). Intensity of infection of A. acutum and E. uncinatum averaged 2.8 +/- 0.3 (SE) and 2.7 +/- 0.3, respectively, and mean abundance averaged 1.5 +/- 0.2 and 1.5 +/- 0.2, respectively. Differences in prevalence and mean abundance for A. acutum and E. uncinatum were not significant by hunting season, host age, or host sex. Our findings represent new information about gizzard helminth infections in gadwalls wintering along the mid-Texas coast.