Pelecitus tercostatus (Molin, 1860) (Onchocercidae, Dirofilariinae) was found in the leg of a Vinaceous-breasted Parrot Amazona vinacea (Aves, Psittaciformes) from Misiones, Argentina. The present report enlarges the host distribution of the species and represents the first record of any nematode in A. vinacea. The macroscopic lesions produced in the bird are also described.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Demergassi, Natalia M.

Di Nucci, Dante L.

Diaz, Julia Inés

Falzone, Martín P.

Fernanda Lois, M.

Gachen, Gustavo G.

Navone, Graciela Teresa

Zalazar, Raúl O.

Acta Parasitologica

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DOI: 10.2478/s11686-012-0015-8© W. Stefan´ski Institute of Parasitology, PASActa Parasitologica, 2012, 57(2), 194–198;  ISSN 1230-2821AbstractPelecitus tercostatus (Molin, 1860) (Onchocercidae, Dirofilariinae) was found in the leg of a Vinaceous-breasted Parrot Ama-zona vinacea (Aves, Psittaciformes) from Misiones, Argentina. The present report enlarges the host distribution of the speciesand represents the first record of any nematode in A. vinacea. The macroscopic lesions produced in the bird are also described.KeywordsNematoda, Onchocercidae, Pelecitus tercostatus, Psittacidae, Amazona vinacea, ArgentinaSpecies of the nematode genus Pelecitus Railliet et Henry,1910 (Onchocercidae, Dirofilariinae) are parasites of at least30 families of birds, with only 3 species known from mam-mals, and are widely distributed all over the world (Bartlett1983; Bartlett and Greiner 1986; Jimenez-Ruiz et al. 2004).Adult worms occur in nodules on the leg and foot, and mi-crofilariae inhabit the feathered skin (Bartlett and Greiner1986; Bartlett 1992).In many South American countries, knowledge of para-site biodiversity in Neotropical birds is poor and data iscompletely lacking for common species (Oniki et al. 2002).The Vinaceous breasted Parrot Amazona vinacea (Kuhl)(Aves: Psittaciformes) is an endangered species of psittacine(BirdLife International 2011) endemic in the Atlantic forestin southeastern South America, particularly in easternBrazil, eastern Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The aimof this note is to report the first record of Pelecitus ter-costatus (Molin, 1860) in an A. vinacea from Misiones, Ar-gentina and to describe the macroscopic lesions producedby the nematode in the bird.The bird was originally from San Pedro, Misiones(26°37´18˝S, 54°6´35˝W), where it was confiscated by envi-ronmental authorities. It was sent to Foundation Temaikèn on21 April 2006 to become part of a captive breeding programas part of The Paraná Pine Conservation Project. The animalwas examined under anaesthesia during a routine check-up.The bird weighed 0.374 kg and was under good general con-dition. Initial physical examination revealed markedly bilat-eral swollen areas associated with the tibiotarsus-tarsome-tatarsal joint. There were numerous soft, swollen subcutaneousnodes in both legs (Fig. 1A). There were no signs of discom-fort or dysfunction in relation to the masses. On palpation theyappeared to be non-painful and there were no signs ofswelling. These nodules were found as a clinical finding andno other problems were observed on physical or haematolog-ical examination.Radiographic examination of the legs showed soft-tissueswelling around the mentioned joint with no evidence of boneinvolvement. Previous radiographic examinations displayedthe same cyst structures, on its entrance into the ConservationProject.A small-gauge-needle aspirate from one of the nodeswas performed, obtaining an amber odourless gelatinous liq-uid. Its microscopic examination revealed a large number*Corresponding author: jidiaz@cepave.edu.arRESEARCH NOTEPelecitus tercostatus (Molin, 1960)(Nematoda, Onchocercidae) in Amazona vinacea(Aves, Psittaciformes) from Argentina:morphological details and clinical findingsJulia I. Diaz1*,  Dante L. Di Nucci2, Martín P. Falzone2, Natalia M. Demergassi2, M. Fernanda Lois2, Raúl O. Zalazar2, Graciela T. Navone1 and Gustavo G. Gachen21Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), Calle 2 No. 584, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires Province,Argentina. 2Fundación Temaikèn, Ruta 25 Km 0,700 Belén de Escobar, Buenos Aires Province, ArgentinaUnauthenticatedDownload Date | 8/27/19 8:39 PMPelecitus tercostatus in Amazona vinacea from Argentina 195of red blood cells and the sample was negative for microfi-lariae.After 40 days with no evidence of clinical signs, the birddied of head trauma in the Biopark of the FoundationTemaikèn in Belén de Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 21 November 2010. The necropsy report showed eight round masses on itsright leg and seven on its left leg. On their opening, a largenumber of adult nematode parasites were found (Fig. 1B).About 110 worms were extracted from the right leg, and about90 from the left leg.Nematodes were removed from the nodes, fixed in 10%formalin, and stored in 70% ethanol. Ten males and ten fe-males were cleared in glycerin for light microscope study. Two males and 2 females were dried using the critical pointmethod, and examined by SEM (Jeol JSV 6063 LV®). Mor-phological descriptions follow the terminology given byBartlett and Greiner (1986). Voucher specimens were de-posited in the Helminthological Collection of the Museo deLa Plata (CHMLP), La Plata, Argentina (Nº 6504). Measure-ments are given in micrometers, unless otherwise stated. Male and female morphometrics are presented in Table I(Figs 1, 2). Cuticle thick, transversally striated. Symmetry oflateral alae showing sexual dimorphism. On apical view, 4 inner-labial and 4 outer-cephalic papillae form a square; theamphids are not salient (Figs 1C, 2B, D). The oesophagus isFig. 1. A. Leg of Amazona vinacea showing nodes. B. Adult nematodes in an opened node. C. Adults of Pelecitus tercostatus, apical view,showing cephalic papillae arrangement (see arrows) and amphids (a). D. Posterior end of female showing the anal papillae (white arrow), andphasmids (black arrow). E–F. Male, posterior end showing papillae arrangement. Scale bars (in micrometers): C and D = 20, E = 50, F =100UnauthenticatedDownload Date | 8/27/19 8:39 PMJulia I. Diaz et al.196stout, cylindrical, clearly demarcated from intestine (Fig. 2A).Male presents a slight rotation in the later third of the body.Lateral alae asymmetrical, left larger than right. Caudal alaeslightly asymmetrical. Caudal papillae distributed as follow:(1) a group of 3 pairs of pedunculate pre-cloacal papillaesometimes extending into alae, asymmetrical in arrangement;(2) 3 pairs of smaller, semipedunculate ad-cloacal papillae,middle one external, forming a triangle, near the group 4; (3)3 pairs of small, sessile papillae in the caudal extremity, sym-metrical or asymmetrically arrangement, (4) small, sessileperi-cloacal papillae, one pair anterior (or/and single papilla),one pair posterior to cloaca, plus small papillae below them.Hyaline inclusions present within caudal alae (Figs 1E, F, 2G,H). Spicules delicate, unequal, and dissimilar; left spiculelarger than right and divided into a calomus more sclerotizedthan the lamina (Figs 2G, H).Body of the female straight, not twisted or coiled. Post-deirids slightly visible. Lateral alae symmetrical. Vulva ante-rior to the oesophagic-intestinal junction (Fig. 2A). Caudalend rounded (Fig. 2E). Phasmids subterminal in position,opening dorso-lateral in a prominent papilla (Figs 1D, 2F).Microfilariae not observed. Following the key to species of Pelecitus proposed byBartlett and Greiner (1986) specimens from A. vinaceaagree with P. tercostatus mainly by the size and because thebody of gravid female is straight or curved but never twistedor coiled. The general morphology and measurements ofpresent specimens agree with those given by other authors.In males the disposition and number of caudal papillae wasvariable. In some males 4 papillae were observed in the leftside of group (1). Moreover, in group (4) the precloacalpapilla can be single or double. These observations are inaccordance with the intraspecific variation mentioned byBartlett and Greiner (1986) for P. tercostatus and otherPelecitus species. As was observed by previous authors(Bartlett and Greiner 1986) the males had asymmetrical lat-eral alae, the left ala being larger than the right, while fe-male alae were symmetrical.Other Pelecitus species reported in Psittacidae arePelecitus helicinus (Molin, 1860), Pelecitus circularis (Molin,1860), Pelecitus andersoni Bartlett et Greiner, 1986 (Bartlettand Greiner 1986), and Pelecitus sp. (Allen et al. 1985;Greiner and Ritchie 1994). However, their features do notagree with the present specimens, especially in the morphol-ogy of the posterior ends of males and females and morphol-ogy of the spiculae. In P. tercostatus spiculae are delicate,unequal, dissimilar, and tip tapered, being the left larger thanthe right (mean 129 vs 82, respectively), in contrast in P. he-licinus they are stout, subequal, shorter (i.e. around 75), and tiptruncated, whereas in P. circularis and P. andersoni spiculaeare unequal, dissimilar, stout, and tip truncated (Bartlett andGreiner 1986; Vicente et al. 1995).Pelecitus tercostatus has been reported previously only inmembers of Psittaciformes from the Neotropical region suchas the Turquoise-fronted Parrot Amazona aestiva (L.), theAlder Parrot Amazona tucumana (Cabanis), and the Scaly-headed Parrot Pionus maximiliani (Kuhl) (Greve et al. 1982;Bartlett and Greiner 1986). In Argentina, P. tercostatus hasbeen previously recovered only from P. maximiliani fromSan Antonio, Misiones (Schuurmans Sterkhoven 1951). Theonly other species recorded from Argentina is Pelecitus fuli-catreae (Diesing, 1861) from Podiceps occipitalis (Garnot)(Podicipediformes) from Chubut Province (Escudero et al.2007).The wide distribution of the genus in birds is related to itstransmission using lice, mosquitoes and other arthropods asTable I. Measurements of Pelecitus tercostatus from Amazona vinaceaFemales (n = 10) Mean Min. Max.Total length (mm) 26.6 24.9 27.8Width at vulva level 417 370 450Maximum width 742 600 850Oesophagus 1020 900 1100Vulva (dae) 762 550 970Nerve ring 189 170 230Tail 97 90 110Males (n = 10)Total length (mm) 11.1 8.6 12.7Maximum width 459 400 500Oesophagus 863 800 950Excretory pore (n = 2) – 105 250Nerve ring 161 150 175Tail 62 58 65Right spicule 82 75 90Left spicule 129 120 145dae – distance from anterior end.UnauthenticatedDownload Date | 8/27/19 8:39 PMPelecitus tercostatus in Amazona vinacea from Argentina 197intermediate hosts (Anderson, 2000). The specificity of thisspecies to psittacids suggest that their intermediate hosts maybe chewing lice specific to these hosts, as was recorded for P. fulicaeatrae (Bartlett and Anderson 1987).The present finding increases the known host and globaldistribution of P. tercostatus. Amazona vinacea is an endemicparrot from southeaster Brazil and Paraguay and MisionesProvince in Argentina. The species has been uplisted to En-dangered because the very small populations have suffered arapid decline owing to extensive habitat loss and fragmenta-tion, compounded by trade, and rapid declines are projected tocontinue (BirdLife International 2011). This is the first recordof any nematode from this native and endemic parrot. Clini-cally, in the presented case there were no signs of any mor-bidity. In addition, there was no discomfort or dysfunctiondisplayed by the animal, so the infection was considered to beapathogenic in this particular case. However, although the birdin captivity showed no adverse effects from the infection, theextent of the deformity could have affected its survival if ithad been in the wild.Acknowledgements. The authors gratefully thank Patricia Sarmientoof the SEM service of Museo de La Plata, for her technical assistanceand María Cristina Estivariz from CEPAVE for her help with thedrawings. We are also grateful to the Conservation Department ofthe Temaikèn Foundation for the information provided and especiallyto Bibiana Gomez for her support. ReferencesAllen J.L., Kollias G.V., Greiner E.C., Boyce W. 1985. Subcuta-neous filariasis (Pelecitus sp.) in a Yellow-Collared Macaw(Ara auricollis). Avian Diseases, 29, 891–894. DOI: 10.2307/1590686.Fig. 2. Adult of Pelecitus tercostatus from Amazona vinacea. A. Female anterior end, showing oesophagus, nerve ring and vulva. B. Female,cephalic extremity detail, showing oral opening and papillae. C. Apical views of oral opening at different levels. D. Apical view, showingcephalic papillae arrangement and amphids. E. Female, posterior end. F. Female, posterior end showing the anus and prominent phasmids.G-H. Male, posterior end showing papillae arrangement. Scale bars (in micrometers): A = 250, B and C = 20, D = 50, E = 500, F =100, G and H = 50UnauthenticatedDownload Date | 8/27/19 8:39 PMJulia I. Diaz et al.198Anderson R.C. 2000. Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates. Their de-velopment and transmission. CABI Publishing, 2nd Edition,650 pp.Bartlett C.M. 1983. Zoogeography and taxonomy of Dirofilariascapiceps (Leidy, 1886) and D. uniformis Price, 1957 (Ne-matoda: Filarioidea) of lagomorphs in North America. Ca-nadian Journal of Zoology, 61, 1011–1022. DOI:10.1139/z83-135.Bartlett C.M. 1992. Cold-hardiness in Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Ne-matoda: Filarioidea), a parasite of the ankles of Fulica ameri-cana (Aves). Journal of Parasitology, 78, 138–139. DOI:10.2307/3283700.Bartlett C.M., Anderson R.C. 1987. Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Nema-toda: Filarioidea) of coots (Gruiformes) and grebes (Podici-pediformes): skin-inhabiting microfilariae and developmentin Mallophaga. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 65, 2803–2812.DOI:10.1139/z87-423.Bartlett C.M., Greiner E.C. 1986. A revision of Pelecitus Railliet andHenry, 1910 (Filarioidea, Dirofilariinae) and evidence for the“capture” by mammals of filarioids from birds. Bulletin duMuseum National d’ Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 4th Series, Sec-tion A, 47–99.BirdLife International. 2011. Species factsheet: Amazona vinacea.Downloaded from www.birdlife.org on 10 February 2011.Escudero G., Diaz J.I., Notarnicola J. 2007. New Host and distribu-tion records of Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Diesing, 1861) (Ne-matoda: Onchocercidae). Acta Parasitologica, 52, 419–421.DOI:10.2478/s11686-007-0058-4.(Accepted February 23, 2012)Greiner E.C., Ritchie B.W.1994. Parasites. In: (Eds B.W. Ritchie,G.J. Harrison, L.R. Harrison) Avian Medicine: Principles andApplication. Lake Worth, F. L. Wingers Publishing, pp. 1007–1029.Greve J.H., Graham D.L., Nye R.R. 1982. Tenosynovitis caused byPelecitus calamiformis (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in the legsof a parrot. Avian Diseases, 26, 431–436. DOI:10.2307/1590118.Jimenez-Ruiz F.A., Gardner S.L., Cervantes F.A., Lorenzo C. 2004.A new species of Pelecitus (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) fromthe endangered Tehuantepec jackrabbit Lepus flavigularis.Journal of Parasitology, 90, 803–807. DOI:10.1645/GE-213R1.Oniki Y., Kinsella J.M., Willis E.O. 2002. Pelecitus helicinus Raillietand Henry, 1910 (Filarioidea, Dirofilariinae) and other nem-atode parasites of Brazilian birds. Memórias do Instituto Os-waldo Cruz, 97, 597–598. DOI:10.1590/S0074-02762002000400027.Schuurmans Sterkhoven J.H. 1951. Nematodos parasitarios de an-fibios, pájaros y mamíferos de la Republica Argentina. ActaZoologica Lilloana, 10, 315–400.Vicente J.J., Rodrigues H.O., Gomes D.C., Pinto R.M. 1995. Nema-tóides do Brasil. Parte IV: Nematóides de aves. Revista Bra-sileira de Zoologia, 12, 1–273.UnauthenticatedDownload Date | 8/27/19 8:39 PM

Pelecitus tercostatus (Molin, 1960) (Nematoda, Onchocercidae) in Amazona vinacea (Aves, Psittaciformes) from Argentina: Morphological details and clinical findings

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Pelecitus tercostatus (Molin, 1960) (Nematoda, Onchocercidae) in Amazona vinacea (Aves, Psittaciformes) from Argentina: Morphological details and clinical findings

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