Collyriclum faba (Digenea: Collyriclidae) in migrant Phylloscopus trochilus (Aves: Sylvidae) in Egypt: The first record of the parasite on the African continent

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to document the presence of the avian trematode Collyriclum faba in Egypt. During bird migration, parasitological research was carried out along the East European bird migration flyway (Jordan, Palestine, Egypt) in 2012-2014. A total of 1783 birds belonging to 87 species, mainly passerines, were macroscopically examined for the presence of parasites. An adult male individual of the willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus, examined in Aswan, southern Egypt, presented 5 subcutaneous cysts containing parasites identified as C. faba located on its thighs, above the eye, and on the body under the wing. The parasites were probably transported by the migrating bird over the Balkan Peninsula or Turkey. Collyriclum faba had never been recorded from Africa before.