Document of bibliographic reference 404496

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Current knowledge of helminth parasites in Australian Anatidae species

Abstract

Research on parasites in Australian birds is limited. This study aimed to identify patterns of parasite burdens and their distribution across Australia in Anatidae species. Data were gathered from databases and the Australian Helminth Collection, then analysed using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The findings reveal that platyhel?minths were more frequently reported than nematodes, while acanthocephalans were the least abundant and least diverse para?sites. At least 119 parasitic helminth taxa were recorded in Australian Anatidae (22 species from 16 genera), based on 271 records from 44 published articles and five museum/research insti?tution collections. Specifically, 76 cases of nematode infection (33 taxa) were found among 20 Anatidae species, 102 cases of trema?tode infection (42 taxa) among 22 species, and 90 cases of cestode infection (40 taxa) among 16 species. The high prevalence of pla?tyhelminths may be due to the host diet and the parasites’ ability to multiply asexually in various larval stages among trematodes, increasing the likelihood of exposure and infection. The study also highlights the challenges in accurately identifying parasites due to many records being identified only at higher taxonomic levels. This issue is exacerbated by a scarcity of taxonomists and insufficient investment in capacity building in the country. Moreover, the avail?able knowledge about the geographical distribution of Anatidae parasites in Australia is biased by the location of research institu?tions rather than the actual distribution of parasites. The introduc?tion of non-native parasites through bird movement and introduced domestic waterfowls across borders poses a significant risk to native wildlife, potentially leading to new disease outbreaks or exacerbating existing health issues.

Bibliographic citation

Ray, M.; Barton, D.; Shamsi, S. (2024). Current knowledge of helminth parasites in Australian Anatidae species. J. Nat. Hist. 58(45-48): 2249-2269. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2024.2420950

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true