Collecting and fixating helminths during fieldwork: a practice and easy guide for ornithologists

Author(s)

Luchetti, Natalia da Mata ; Silveira, Luis Fabio

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ORNITHOLOGY RESEARCH; v. 33, n. 1, p. 6-pg., 2025-03-19.

Abstract

Helminths inhabiting wild birds are an unexplored compound of Neotropical biodiversity, mainly because of the low number of helminthologists currently working with these hosts in this geographic area. Since active ornithologists collecting specimens in neotropics are in great number, their help in collecting these helminths can increase the parasitological knowledge of these hosts. Here, we propose a simple protocol for collecting helminths inhabiting birds for researchers without specific parasitological training, using no special equipment and no complex liquid fixing agent and causing no damage for the bird specimens. Focusing on gastrointestinal organs (stomach, liver, gallbladder and intestine), this method utilizes the same incision made for the bird taxidermy and attempts to better use of the collected biological material, avoiding further collecting for the same purposes. The major purpose here is count with ornithologists help for generation of potentially informative data for the systematics of parasites and ecological relationships with their hosts. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/23548-2 - Evaluation, recovering and conservation of endangered animal species from the Pernambuco Centre of Endemism
• Grantee: Luís Fábio Silveira
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants