New records of Ascaridia platyceri (Nematoda) in parrots (Psittaciformes)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the range of species of ascarids in parrots in the Czech Republic. Ascarids were found during post-mortem parasitological examination of 38 psittaciform birds belonging to 15 different species. All ascarids found were determined as Ascaridia platyceri. Nine bird species were determined as new hosts of this parasite. A. platyceri is a typical ascarid for parrots of Australian origin. The fact that this parasite was found in bird species of African origin demonstrated a possibility of spread of A. platyceri to hosts of different zoogeographical origin. A. platyceri was described in detail from the host Melopsittacus undulatus and differentiated from other ascarids on the basis of morphological and quantitative traits. The most important differentiating traits included the presence of interlabia in both sexes. In males, the traits important for species identification included the number and location of caudal papillae (a total of 9 to 10 pairs), relatively short spicula and absence of cuticular alae on the spicula, while females featured a conical shape of the tail.