Ectoparasites associated with two species of bee-eaters (Aves: Meropidae) in western Iran

Three species of bee-eaters (Aves: Meropidae), i.e., Merops apiaster, Merops orientalis, and Merops persicus occur in Iran. As bee-eaters are migratory birds, during their migration, they face anthropogenic threats such as being killed as an apiary pest through hunting or poisoning by bee-keepers in different countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the ecto- and endoparasites of bee-eaters in Ilam, Iran. A total of 550 dead bee-eaters (M. apiaster and M. persicus), most probably poisoned, were collected in Ilam province, west of Iran, during April 2018 and April 2019. They were examined for ecto- and endoparasites. Gizzard and liver samples were fixed and processed for histopathology. A total of 3739 chewing lice (total prevalence = 66.0%) and 180 adult feather mites (total prevalence = 2.4%) were collected from 363 infested birds. Four species of chewing lice and one species of mite were identified. Lice included Brueelia apiastri, Meromonopon meropis, Meropoecus meropis and the mite Piciformobia tetracanthura, from M. apiaster, and Brueelia erythropteri, Meromonopon meropis, and Meropoecus meropis from M. persicus. Remarkable changes in histopathology of gizzard and liver samples were not detected. However, in the macroscopic examination, vascular hyperemia in the esophagus, petechial hemorrhages in the gizzard and diarrhea were observed. Although bee-eaters are known as effective ecosystem engineers, they are facing different threats like hunting and poisoning by bee-keepers in different parts of Iran. There is little information about ectoparasites of wild birds in Iran, and this study adds to our knowledge of the lice and mites fauna of Iran.