A study of the helminth fauna of birds belonging to the Passeriformes in the Netherlands

Abstract

In this study, 210 birds belonging to 47 species and 15 families of the Passeriformes collected during the period 1970-1986, were investigated for the presence of helminths. Of these birds, 138 (65.7%) were infected: 47 (22.4%) with digeneans, 82 (39.0%) with cestodes, 95 (45.2%) with nematodes and 36 (17.1%) with acanthocephalans. Eleven species of digeneans were found 5 of cestodes, 11 of nematodes and 2 of acanthocephalans. Most findings are new records for the Netherlands. New hosts were revealed for one nematode species (Fringilla montifringilla for Pterothominx exilis), four digeneans (Sitta europaea for Echinochasmus beleocephalus, Turdus philomelos for Echinostoma revolutum, Motacilla alba for Notocotylus attenuatus and Passser domesticus as well as Turdus philomelos for Plagiorchis multiglandularis) and one acanthocephalan (Troglodytes troglodytes for Prosthorhynchus cylindraceus). The results showed clearly that birds which feed on invertebrates or are omnivorous - Hirundinidae, 16 investigated, 11 positive (68.8%); Corvidae, 53 investigated, 47 positive (88.7%); Turdidae, 53 investigated, 42 positive (79.2%) and Sturnidae, 17 investigated, 15 positive (88.2%) - are heavier infected than seed eaters - Fringillidae, 18 investigated, 2 positive (11.1%). However, high intensity of infection with capillariids (up to 350 specimens) in one of Fringilla montifringilla should be noticed