Species of the nematode genus Amidostomum Railliet and Henry, 1909 in aquatic birds in the Netherlands.

The presence of gizzard worms belonging to the genus Amidostomum was studied in birds in the Netherlands during the period 1975-2003. Amidostomum acutum was found in Anatidae: Anas acuta, A. clypeata, A. crecca, A. penelope, A. platyrynchos, A. strepera, Aythya ferina, Ay. fuligula, Ay. marila, Bucephala clangula, Melanitta fusca, M. nigra, Tadorna tadorna, Somateria mollissima and Recurvirostra avocetta. No Amidostomum species were found in the following three species of Mergini: Mergus albellus, M. merganser and M. serrator. Amidostomum anseris was seen in Anser albifrons, A. fabolis, Branla bernicla and Branta leucopsis. Amidostomum cygni was detected in Cygnus bewickii and Cygnus olor, while Amidostomum fulicae was found in Fulica atra. The prevalence is only given for bird species where ten or more individuals had been investigated: Anas platyrhynchos (n = 14): 21.4%; Melanitta nigra (n = 12): 91.7%; Somateria mollissima (n = 117): 100%; Anser albifrons (n = 11): 100% and Cygnus olor (n = 10): 60%. Based on the present results, much more attention should be paid to the systematics, the epidemiological pattern and the pathogenicity of worms of this genu

The helminth fauna of birds of prey (Accipitriformes, Falconiformes and Strigiformes) in the Netherlands

Eighteen species of birds of prey in Netherlands were examined for helminth parasites: Accipitriformes - Accipiter gentilis (15 birds), A. nisus (9), Aquila pomarina (1), Buteo buteo (56), B. lagopus (4), Circaetus gallicus (2), Circus aeruginosus (2), C. cyaneus (3), Pernis apivorus (5); Falconiformes - Falco columbarius (2), F. peregrinus (2), F. subbuteo (6), F. tinnunculus (31); Strigiformes - Asio flammeus (3), A. otus (35), Athene noctua (12), Strix aluco (19) and Tyto alba (15). Sixteen nematode species were found: Baruscapillaria falconis, Capillaria tenuissima, Eucoleus dispar, Pterothominx caudinflata, Cyathostoma americana, Porrocaecum angusticolle, P. depressum, P. spiralae, Physaloptera alata, P. apivori, Procyrnea leptoptera, P. seurati, P. spinosa, Spirocerca lupi, Synhimantus laticeps and Diplotriaena henryi. All species of birds were infected with nematodes with the exception of F. peregrinus. Eleven trematode species were present: Brachylaeme fuscatus, Echinostoma revolutum, Echinoparyphium agnatum, Strigea falconis, S. strigis, Parastrigea flexilis, Neodiplostomum spathoides, N. attenuatum, Ichthyocotylurus platycephalus and Prosthogonimus cuneatus. Trematode infections were found in all birds except A. nisus, C. cyaneus, P. apivorus, F. columbarius, F. peregrinus and A. flammeus. Centrorhynchus aluconis was the only identifiable acanthocephalan. Acanthocephalan infections were seen in A. nisus, B. buteo, C. gallicus, C. aeruginosus and S. aluco. Cestode infections were seen in 8 bird species. The cestodes could not be identified to the genus, because they were poorly preserved. Most findings are new host records for Netherlands

The gastrointestinal helminth fauna of the eider duck (Somateria mollissima L.) in the Netherlands

The gastrointestinal helminth fauna of 25 eider ducks (Somateria mollissima L.) in the Netherlands has been described and number of worms counted or estimated. For the most common species maximum worm numbers are given. Five nematode species were found: Amidostomum acutum (max. intensity 1500). Paractiaria formosensis. Streptocara crassicauda, Tetrameres fissispina and Capillaria nyrocinarum (max. intensity 1700). Trematodes were represcrited by 12 species: Cotylurus cormutus, Catatropis verrucosa, Notocotylus attenuatus, Cryptocotyle concavum (max. intensity > 10.000), Psilotrema simillimum (max. intensity > 10.000), Himasthla militaris, Gymnophallus somateriae, G. rostratus, Lacunovermis. macomae, Maritrema gratiosum, Microphallus longicaecum and M. somateriae. The total number of gymnophallid and microphallid digeneans exceded 100.000 in some birds. Other digeneans, not identified at the species level, belonged to the genera Diplostomum, Paramonomum and Levinseniella. Cyclophyllid cestodes (mainly Hymenolepididae) were present in high numbers (max. intensity > 4000), but mostly in the immature stage. One Ligula intestinalis could be identified. Acanthocephalan infections with high numbers (max. intensity 4000) of Profilicollis botulus were very common