ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
This report describes the finding of Reighardia sp. (Pentastomida) infecting the air sac of two Belcher's gulls (Larus belcheri) found dead on the beaches of Pucusana, a district in southern Lima, Peru. Three pentastomes were collected from two Belcher's gulls. Then, they were morphologically and molecular analyzed. Molecular characterization of the parasite was achieved by amplifying a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rRNA). Based on both morphological and molecular data the pentastomes were identified as pentastomes of the genus Reighardia. This is the first report showing that the Belcher's gull is a new natural definitive host for this pentastome.