Helminths of Belted Kingfishers, Megaceryle alcyon Linnaeus, 1758, from a Fish Hatchery in Ohio, U.S.A.

摘要

In total, 9 helminth species (6 digenetic trematodes: Cathaemasia reticulata, Crassiphiala bulbo-glossa, Philophthalmus gralli, Uvulifer ambloplitis, Uvulifer semicircumcisus, unidentified strigeid trematode; 3 nema-todes: Aviculariella alcyona, Contracaecum sp., Monopeta-lonema alcedinis) were found in 11 Megaceryle alcyon specimens examined from a fish hatchery near London, Ohio, in 2008 and 2009. Crassiphiala bulboglossa and U. ambloplitis each had a prevalence of 100%. Crassiphiala bulboglossa has the highest mean intensity and mean abundance. Uvulifer ambloplitis had the next highest mean intensity and mean abundance, followed by U. semicircumcisus. Of the nematodes, A. alcyona had the highest prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance. Gravid worms of all helminth species were found, except for Contracaecum sp. The mean helminth species richness for the birds was 4.8. Kingfishers become infected with C. reticulata, C. bulboglossa, P. gralli, U. ambloplitis, U. semicircumcisus, unidentified strigeid trematode (?), and Contracaecum sp. when they eat infected aquatic organisms. At least 23 studies performed in North America have reported on some aspect of the helminth species found in the present study infecting kingfishers from North America.