Parasitic helminths and arthropods of fulvous whistling-ducks (Dendrocygna bicolor) in southern Florida

Thirty fulvous whistling-ducks (Dendrocygna bicolor) collected during 1984-1985 from the Everglades Agricultural Area of southern Florida were examined for parasites. Twenty-eight species were identified and included 8 trematodes, 6 cestodes, 1 nematode, 4 chewing lice, and 9 mites. All parasites except the 4 species of lice and 1 of the mites are new host records for fulvous whistling-ducks. None of the ducks were infected with blood parasites. Every duck was infected with at least 2 species of helminths (mean 4.2; range 2-8 species). The most common helminths were the trematodes Echinostoma trivolvis and Typhlocoelum cucumevinum and 2 undescribed cestodes of the genus Diorchis, which occurred in prevalences of 67, 63, 50, and 50%, respectively. Only 1 duck was free of parasitic arthropods; each of the other 29 ducks was infested with at least 3 species of arthropods (mean 5.3; range 3-9 species). The most common arthropods included an undescribed feather mite (Ingrassia sp.) and the chewing louse Holomenopon leucoxanthum, both of which occurred in 97% of the ducks.