Community of Chewing Lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) Parasites of Resident Birds at the Archipelago of Sao Pedro and Sao Paulo in Northeast Brazil

Author(s)

Silva, H. M. ^[1] ; Valim, M. P. ^[2] ; Gama, R. A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Norte, Ctr Ciencias, Dept Microbiol & Parasitol, BR-59072970 Natal, RN - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Museu Zool, BR-04218970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Medical Entomology; v. 51, n. 5, p. 941-947, SEP 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The current study describes the chewing lice community associated with seabird populations resident at the Sao Pedro and Sao Paulo Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Adults of three species of seabirds were captured using hand-nets for the collection of biometric data and specimens of ectoparasites. In total, 320 birds were examined (120 Sula leucogaster (Boddaert), Brown Booby; 120 Anous stolidus (L.), -Brown Noddy; and 80 Anous minutus Boie, Black Noddy) of which 95% were infested with 8,625 chewing lice, representing eight species of the genera Actornithophilus, Austromenopon, Eidmanniella, Pectinopygus, Quadraceps, and Saemundssonia. On S. leucogaster, Pectinopygus garbei (Pessoa \& Guimaraes) was more prevalent and had a mean and median intensity of infestation significantly greater than those recorded for Eidmanniella albescens (Piaget). On the two Noddies, the species of Actornithophilus and Quadraceps were significantly more prevalent and abundant than Austromenopon atrofulvum (Piaget) and Saemundssonia remota Timmermann Most of the louse species had a highly aggregated distribution, with k exponent of the negative binomial distribution ranging from 0.04 to 3.06. A weak but significant correlation was found between the abundance of chewing lice and morphometric variables (body weight, wing, beak, tail, and tarsus lengths). It is possible that high rates of infestation have a negative effect on the morphological characteristics of the hosts, including the health of the plumage. All the lice species collected-except for P. garbei (ex S. leucogaster)-were reported for the first time from Brazilian populations of these seabird species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/11420-5 - Taxonomy, systematics and diversity of the chewing lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera, Amblycera and Ischnocera) on birds (Aves) in Brazil
• Grantee: Michel Paiva Valim
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/06951-4 - Taxonomy, systematics and diversity of the chewing lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera, Amblycera and Ischnocera) on birds (Aves) in Brazil
• Grantee: Michel Paiva Valim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers