Helminths of Hudsonian godwits, Limosa haemastica, from Alaska and Manitoba

J Parasitol. 2007 Jun;93(3):716-7. doi: 10.1645/GE-1133R.1.

Abstract

In total, 21 Hudsonian godwits, Limosa haemastica (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae), were examined for helminths, 10 from Bristol Bay, Alaska, and 11 from Churchill, Manitoba. Seventeen species of helminths (9 trematodes, 6 cestodes, 2 nematodes) were collected, but only 1 trematode species, Plagiorchis elegans, was found in common between the 2 sample sites. All 17 species are new records for this host and 2 cestodes, Capsulata edenensis and Malika limosa, are new records for North America. In general, both prevalence and intensities were low, and species richness ranged from 1 to 6 (mean = 2.4). Most of the differences in the helminth faunas between the 2 sites were attributed to difference in habitats, freshwater in Manitoba versus saltwater in Alaska.

MeSH terms

  • Alaska / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology
  • Bird Diseases / parasitology*
  • Charadriiformes / parasitology*
  • Ecosystem
  • Fresh Water
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / parasitology*
  • Helminths / classification*
  • Helminths / isolation & purification
  • Manitoba / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Seawater