Studies on the infestation of male pheasants (Phasanius colchicus) with ecto- and endoparasites

Publication Type:Thesis
Year of Publication:2003
Authors:S. Gassal
Degree:D.V.M.
Number of Pages:1 - 243
Date Published:2003
University:Institute of Parasitology, Faculty for Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
City:Leipzig, Germany
Abstract:

Between October 1999 and January 2000 all together 151 male pheasants were examinedfocussing on incidence of ectoparasites and selected endoparasites (Coccidia, helminths),
infestation extensity and –intensity. 33 one-year-old birds came from two pheasantries from the
German states of Sachsen-Anhalt and Brandenburg (capture group). The remaining 118 birds,
aged between one and five years, were wildlife animals (wildlife group). They had been shot in
24 different hunting grounds in the Saalkreis-, the Merseburg-Querfurt-, the Bitterfeld-district
and on the territory of the City of Halle/Saale (Sachsen-Anhalt).
In all 151 pheasants, ecto- and endoparasites could be detected. All pheasants from the wildlife
group and all pheasants from the pheasantry A showed an infestation with ectoparasites.
Endoparasites were detected in 96.7 % (n = 146) of all 151 animals examined. All together
12 species of ectoparasites and 11 species of endoparasites were found, another 4 ectoparasites
and 2 endoparasites could only be classified as far as to genus. A systematic classification of the
detected tapeworm parts could not be carried out because of the poor condition of preservation.
In the specimen the following 10 species/genus of mallophaga were detected: Amyrsidea perdicismegalosoma, Anaticola crassicornis crassicornis, Goniocotes chrysocephalus, Lagopoecuscolchicus, Lipeurus maculosus maculosus, Uchida phasiani, Zlotorzyckella colchiciCuclotogaster sp., Lagopoecus sp., Reticulipeurus sp.. Mallophaga of the genus of Cuclotogaster
and Lagopoecus were identified in Germany for the first time, Anaticola crassicorniscrassicornis was identified in pheasants (Phasanius colchicus) for the first time worldwide. The
detected parasites of the genus Cuclotogaster, Lagopoecus and Reticulipeurus could not be
classified morphologically, for they might belong to new species which have not been described
yet. Therefore a photographically detailed documentation was carried out. Infestation intensity in
the wildlife group (low degree 43.5 %, medium degree 33 %, high degree 23.5 %) and in
pheasants from the pheasantry A (low degree 43.5 %, medium degree 34.8 %, high degree 21.8
%) varies only slightly (p>0.05, χ2-test).
Feather mites (Megninia ginglymura, Pseudolichus phasani) were detected in 88,7 % of the
pheasants. Pseudolichus phasiani, which so far had only been described once in pheasants
(Switzerland, 1997), could be detected for the second time. The pheasants in the wildlife group
showed a highly significant higher infestation intensity (low degree 12.0 %, medium degree
35.9 %, high degree 52.1 %) compared to those from the pheasantry A (low degree 47.1 %,
medium degree 29.4 %, high degree 23.5 %) (p<0.01, χ2-test).
The quill mite Mironovia phasiani was detected in 19.5 % of the pheasants from the wildlife
group, this being the first detection of the species in Europe and obviously the second description
worldwide. Minimum infestation intensity with quill mites in the feathers examined was 1,
maximum was 12 per pheasant.
An infestation with Knemidocoptes mutans was detected for the first time in a wildlife pheasant.
Signs were to be found on the toes, the tibiotarsus and around the nostrils. An affection of the
nostrils so far had not been described in any host species.
In 37.3 % of the pheasants from the wildlife group larvae and nymphal ticks of Ixodes ricinus
could be detected. Infestation intensity varied at a median of 2 between 1 and 14 ticks per
pheasant. Pheasants from the capture group showed no ticks.
[Summary continues with discussion of endoparasites]

URL:http://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/47066.pdf
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith