Algunos helmintos parásitos de la gaviota peruana (Larus belcheri) / Some parasitic helminths of the Belcher's gull (Larus belcheri)

La información sobre helmintos parásitos de aves marinas es muy limitada en el Perú. En el presente trabajo, se identificaron helmintos colectados de la gaviota peruana (Larus belcheri) provenientes de algunas playas de Lima (Pucusana, Chorrillos, Ventanilla y Ancón) en Perú. Los helmintos fueron estudiados morfológicamente e identificados como Skrjabinoclava sp. (Nematoda), Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda), Maritrema sp. (Trematoda) y Profilicollis altmani (Acanthocephala). El presente trabajo corresponde a los primeros registros de estos parásitos en la gaviota peruana.

Information on parasitic helminths of seabirds is very limited in Peru. In the present work, helminths collected from the Belcher's gull (Larus belcheri) from some beaches of Lima (Pucusana, Chorrillos, Ventanilla and Ancón) in Peru were identified. The helminths were studied morphologically and identified as Skrjabinoclava sp. (Nematoda), Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda), Maritrema sp. (Trematoda) and Profilicollis altmani (Acanthocephala). The present work corresponds to the first records of these parasites in the Peruvian gull.

Discovery of Maritrema obstipum (Digenea: Microphallidae) from Migratory Birds in Korea

Adults of Maritrema obstipum (Digenea: Microphallidae) were found in the intestines of 4 species of migratory birds, including the sanderling (Crocethia alba), Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrines), Mongolian plover (Charadrius mongolus), and red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), collected from Yubu Island, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. The worms of were 451x265 microm in size, and were easily identifiable as Maritrema species by the presence of the cirrus sac, and the ring-like distribution of the vitellaria. More specifically, the ejaculatory duct curved posteromedially, and the 2 parts of vitelline follicles were found to be distinct at the posterior end. The eggs were brown-colored, and 19.8x12.3 microm in size. All these findings implicated M. obstipum as the pertinent species of the worms. Beside these, adult worms of Gynaecotyla squatarolae, Parvatrema duboisi, and Acanthoparyphium sp. were also discovered. This is the first report establishing migratory birds as the natural definitive hosts for M. obstipum.

Discovery of Maritrema jebuensis n. sp. (Digenea: Microphallidae) from the Asian Shore Crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, in Korea

Maritrema spp. (Digenea: Microphallidae) are parasites of birds, but have not been found in the Republic of Korea. In this study, metacercariae of Maritrema sp. were discovered in the Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, caught in the mud-flats of Jebu-do, Hwasung-gun, Gyeonggi-do, and the adult flukes were confirmed by experimental infection into mice. Based on the symmetric ribbon-like vitellarium, adult flukes of Maritrema sp. were identified, but did not belong to previously described species in terms of the following morphologic characteristics: ceca reaching to the lateral wall at the anterior border of the ovary; ventral sucker larger than oral sucker; a prominent metraterm; and vitellarium forming a complete ring. Hence, we named this microphallid M. jebuensis n. sp. after the island where the second intermediate hosts were collected. From this study, it has been shown that Maritrema sp. is distributed in Korea and transmitted by the Asian shore crab, H. sanguineus.