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. 2024 Dec 19;14(24):3664.
doi: 10.3390/ani14243664.

Parasite Screening in Wild Passerines: Enhancing Diagnostic Approaches in Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers

Catarina Ferreira Rebelo  1   2 , Alicia Carrero Ruiz  3 , Alberto Alvarado-Piqueras  3 , Fernando González González  3   4 , Luís Madeira de Carvalho  1   2
Affiliations

Parasite Screening in Wild Passerines: Enhancing Diagnostic Approaches in Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers

Catarina Ferreira Rebelo et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

The order Passeriformes is the richest and most abundant group of birds, but despite numerous parasites being identified in wild birds, this order has received limited focus. This study analyzed 17 passerines admitted to the Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat (GREFA), a wildlife rehabilitation center in Spain, during October to December 2022. Necropsies were conducted to determine the presence of parasites, and intestinal contents were analyzed using fecal smear, flotation and sedimentation techniques and the McMaster method. Sixteen passerines (94.1%) were positive for parasites. Identified species included Monojoubertia microhylla and the genera Ornithonyssus sp., Diplotriaena spp., Serratospiculum sp., Porrocaecum sp., Capillaria spp., Syngamus sp., Strongyloides sp. and Brachylecithum sp., besides cestodes and coccidia. The comparative analysis of parasitological diagnostic techniques showed that the Willis flotation technique was effective for detecting coccidia. However, to obtain more accurate results for other parasites, it is important to complement this technique with direct examination or sedimentation techniques. Among the 12 passerines positive for coccidia, oocyst counts per gram of intestinal contents ranged from 100 to 30,450, with a median of 7350. This study provides valuable insights into the parasitic fauna of Passeriformes, serving as a cornerstone for future research and enhancing our understanding of these avian species.

Keywords: Passeriformes; Spain; birds; coccidia; helminths; parasites; passerines; wild.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of passerine sample by family.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of the detected parasitic groups by passerine family.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Female (on the left), male (on the right, below) and tritonymph (on the right, above) of Monojoubertia microhylla on a common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Dorsal view (on the left) and ventral view (on the right) of Ornithonyssus sp. on a Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Parasites of the genus Diplotriaena sp. in the air sacs of a Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla).
Figure 6
Figure 6
(A) Anterior end of Diplotriaena sp., where the trident can be observed (arrow). (B) Spicules at the posterior end of a Diplotriaena sp. male.
Figure 7
Figure 7
(A) Anterior and posterior ends of Serratospiculum sp. from a song thrush (Turdus philomelos). (B) Posterior end of Porrocaecum sp. from a Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Immature parasitic forms detected by coprological techniques: (A) Unsporulated oocyst of coccidia. (B–D) Eggs of Diplotriaena spp. (E,F) Eggs of Capillaria spp. (G) Egg of Porrocaecum sp. (H) Egg of Syngamus sp. (I) Egg of Strongyloides sp. (J) Egg of Brachylecithum sp. (K,L) Eggs of cestodes.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Comparison of qualitative coprological techniques in the detection of positive parasitological samples.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Results of coccidial oocyst counting using the McMaster method.
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