Filarial tenosynovitis caused by Pelecitus species (Spirurida, Filarioidea, Onchocercidae) in the legs of a channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus).

An adult channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus), imported from Surinam, South America, 18 months earlier, was found dead in its cage. At necropsy, the hock joints were swollen bilaterally and had a reduced range of motion. Small curled worms were present in subcutaneous tissue around the joints, with edema and fibrin formation. These worms were classified as the filarioid nematode, Pelecitus species. Blood-borne microfilariae were seen in cytologic impression smears of the lung and the leg lesions.

[Morphology of tick tarsus (Acari: Ixodida)--modifications connected with life cycle, behaviour, and habitat]. / Budowa stóp kleszczy (Acari: Ixodida)--modyfikacje Zwiazane z cyklem zyciowym, behawiorem i siedliskiem.

Ticks are ectoparasites of wide variety of vertebrates living in various types of environment all over the world. Morphological, biological, and physiological differences among tick species as well as among tick life stages are the result of tick adaptations to various life conditions. This paper presents morphological adaptations of tick tarsus to the hosts and the life conditions. The authors underline morphological differences of Haller's organ and pretarsus in four tick species: Argas reflexus (Fabricius, 1794), A. persicus (Oken, 1818), Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794), and Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758).

[Morphometric features of tarsus in Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) larvae from Polish and Slovakian populations]. / Cechy morfometryczne stóp larw Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) z populacji Polskiej i Slowackiej.

Dermacentor reticulatus is widely distributed dangerous tick that usually lives in the river valleys, boggy forests, meadows, and wooded pastures. Tick populations from various regions may exhibit morphological differences. In our study we compared morphometric features of tarsus in larvae D. reticulatus from Polish and Slovakian populations. I tarsus width, III tarsus length, and length of dorsal setae of I tarsus were significantly higher in Polish populations. Indices of width to length of tarsus I and tarsus III were also significantly different in both populations. The other examined morphologic features were similar, what may result from the same environmental conditions of both populations.

[The colonization of forested areas by Ixodes ricinus (Linné, 1758) in France: use of the roe deer, Capreolus capreolus (L. 1758) as a biological marker]. / La colonisation des massifs forestiers par Ixodes ricinus (Linné, 1758) en France: utilisation du chevreuil, Capreolus capreolus (L. 1758) comme marqueur biologique.

The roe-deer is a wild animal for which Ixodes ricinus has a particular fondness. Its territory is similar to that of the ticks and it is a species which is found throughout France yet which rarely leaves its territory. Given these conditions, a systematic parasitological examination of the ungulate can provide pertinent information concerning the forests inhabited by the tick. Since it is difficult to conduct a thorough examination of a large number of roe-deer over a limited space of time and on a large territory, the best solution is to examine the hind feet (hooves and tarsus) of the animal which are widely covered by the preimaginal stages of the tick. This biological material is easily available to the extent that the measurements of the animals are often used for game management. A preliminary study was conducted in Dordogne (southwestern France). Out of the 137 pairs of feet examined more than 50% carried the tick species (larvae or nymphs). The critical analysis of the results obtained throughout the investigation enables us to be more specific about the conditions of application of the advocated method.