Ecology of nematode parasitism in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) in Spain

We examined the nematode fauna of 79 shot red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) from Southern Spain. Four species (Trichostrongylus tenuis, Heterakis gallinarum, Cyrnea seurati, and Cheilospirura gruveli) were recorded, C. gruveli being identified as the core species of this population. Trichostron...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Millán, Javier, Gortázar, Christian, Villafuerte, Rafael
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2004
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/282047
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/282047
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Alectoris rufa
Cheilospirura gruveli
Nematodes
Red-legged partridge
Descripción
Sumario:We examined the nematode fauna of 79 shot red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) from Southern Spain. Four species (Trichostrongylus tenuis, Heterakis gallinarum, Cyrnea seurati, and Cheilospirura gruveli) were recorded, C. gruveli being identified as the core species of this population. Trichostrongylus tenuis showed higher prevalence and abundance in adults than in juveniles. The infection with C. gruveli increased with age in females but decreased in males. The occurrence of C. gruveli and C. seurati in individual partridges was not independent in juveniles. The C. gruveli population was female-biased, more markedly at high intensities. The presence of spirurid eggs in faeces and C. gruveli females was not independent in juveniles and showed the same trend in adults. The abundance of C. gruveli was positively correlated with the gizzard weight in juvenile partridges. Juvenile females parasitised by C. gruveli had a heavier spleen than those nonparasitised. Adult partridges harbouring C. gruveli were in poorer body condi-tion than those free of the parasite.