Chewing Louse Species (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) on Roadkill Wild Birds in Van Province: Five New Species in Turkey

Background: The present study was conducted to identify the lice species in birds that were struck and injured or killed by motor vehicles along the highway surrounding Lake Van, which is located between Van and Bitlis provinces in Turkey. Methods: The bird feathers were inspected using a macroscope. The isolated lice were placed in tubes containing 70% alcohol and were made translucent by 10% KOH. They were then glued using Canadian balsam and identified under light microscopy. Result: Of the 102 birds collected, 40 (40.8%) birds were infested with at least one louse species. In infested birds, 14 individual lice from 11 species were identified. Of these, Coloceras damicorne (Nitzsch, 1866), Columbicola claviformis (Denny, 1842), Ricinus serratus (Uchida, 1926), Philopterus coarctatus (Scopoli, 1763), Upupicola upupae (Schrank, 1803) were identified in birds for the first time in Turkey.

Mitochondrial genome of Geomydoecus aurei, a pocket-gopher louse

Parasitic lice demonstrate an unusual array of mitochondrial genome architectures and gene arrangements. We characterized the mitochondrial genome of Geomydoecus aurei, a chewing louse (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) found on pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) using reads from both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing coupled with PCR, cloning, and Sanger sequencing to verify structure and arrangement for each chromosome. The genome consisted of 12 circular mitochondrial chromosomes ranging in size from 1,318 to 2,088 nucleotides (nt). Total genome size was 19,015 nt. All 37 genes typical of metazoans (2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 13 protein-coding genes) were present. An average of 26% of each chromosome was composed of non-gene sequences. Within the non-gene region of each chromosome, there was a 79-nt nucleotide sequence that was identical among chromosomes and a conserved sequence with secondary structure that was always followed by a poly-T region. We hypothesize that these regions may be important in the initiation of transcription and DNA replication, respectively. The G. aurei genome shares 8 derived gene clusters with other chewing lice of mammals, but in G. aurei, genes on several chromosomes are not contiguous.

Another puzzle piece in the systematics of the chewing louse genus Myrsidea, with a description of a new genus Apomyrsidea

A new avian chewing louse genus Apomyrsidea gen. nov. is described based on species parasitizing birds in the family Formicariidae. Diagnostic characteristics and phylogenetic analyses were used to evaluate and confirm the generic status and merit its recognition as unique and different from Myrsidea Waterston, 1915. Three species previously belonging to the genus Myrsidea are placed in the new genus Apomyrsidea gen. nov. and are discussed: Apomyrsidea circumsternata (Valim & Weckstein, 2013) gen. et comb. nov., Apomyrsidea isacantha (Valim & Weckstein, 2013) gen. et comb. nov. and Apomyrsidea klimesi (Sychra in Sychra et al., 2006) gen. et comb. nov.

Alcedoffula alcyonae Carriker (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) infesting belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus) (Aves: Coraciiformes, Alcedinidae), in Manitoba, Canada

Forty-one belted kingfishers, Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus) (Aves: Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae), from Manitoba, Canada were examined for ectoparasites in 1995–2020. One species of chewing louse, Alcedoffula alcyonae Carriker (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae), infested 48.8% of hosts. The mean intensity of infestation was 17.1, and mean abundance was 8.5 lice per bird. Distribution of infestation was highly aggregated. Although female lice outnumbered males, the sex ratio was not significantly different from 1.0. The ratio of nymphs to females was 2.6. An unidentified species of feather mite of the genus Proterothrix Gaud (Acari: Astigmatina: Proctophyllodidae) infested three of 35 hosts (8.6%). No mites were found in the quills of primary feathers from 19 birds, and no nasal mites were collected from 32.

A new subgenus and eight new species of Guimaraesiella Eichler, 1949 (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae: Brueelia-complex)

The species of the chewing louse genus Guimaraesiella Eichler, 1949 parasitic on drongos (Dicruridae) are reviewed and placed in the new subgenus Dicrurobates, which is described herein together with eight new species, including one species from non-dicrurid hosts. The new species are: Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) carbonivora n. sp. from Dicrurus bracteatus carbonarius Bonaparte, 1850; Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) latitemporalis n. sp. from Dicrurus hottentottus brevirostris (Cabanis, 1851) and Dicrurus hottentottus ssp. (Linnaeus, 1766); Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) lurida n. sp. from Dicrurus leucophaeus Vieillot, 1817; Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) luzonica n. sp. from Dicrurus balicassius (Linnaeus, 1766); Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) nana n. sp. from Dicrurus hottentottus samarensis Vaurie, 1947; Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) regis n. sp. from Dicrurus annectans (Hodgson, 1836), Dicrurus paradiseus paradiseus (Linnaeus, 1766) and Dicrurus paradiseus rangoonensis (Gould, 13836); Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) transvaalensis n. sp. from Dicrurus adsimilis apivorus Clancey, 1976; and Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) campanula n. sp. from Oriolus larvatus rolleti Salvadori, 1864 and Prionops plumatus poliocephalus (Stanley, 1814). Also, Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) sexmaculata (Piaget, 1880) and Guimaraesiella (Dicrurobates) dicruri (Ansari, 1955) are redescribed and illustrated. A key to identify adults of all 10 species included in the subgenus is provided.

Description of the postembryonic stages of Mulcticola macrocephalus (Kellogg, 1896) (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera: Philopteridae)

The nymphs I, II, III, and adult male and adult female stages of Mulcticola macrocephalus (Kellogg) (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera: Philopteridae), a monoxenous species of chewing louse infesting common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (Forster) (Caprimulgiformes: Caprimulgidae), in North America, are described. Line drawings of whole nymphs and adults are presented, as are details of anterior dorsal head plates, metasternal plates, female subvulvar plates, and male genitalia. Ontogenetic characters exhibited during the postembryonic development of this species of chewing louse are described and discussed in relation to previous information in the literature.

Calidolipeurus, new genus for Lipeurus megalops Piaget, 1880 (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Oxylipeurus-complex), with a redescription of the type species and a preliminary key to the Oxylipeurus-complex

The chewing louse species Lipeurus megalops Piaget, 1880, is redescribed and illustrated. This species has previously been placed in the genus Oxylipeurus Mjöberg, 1910, but marked differences in preantennal structure, male and female genitalia, abdominal chaetotaxy, and structure of abdominal plates indicate that this species is not closely related to other species in this genus. We therefore erect a new genus, Calidolipeurus gen. nov. for this species. Calidolipeurus is presently monotypic, containing only Calidolipeurus megalops gen. et comb. nov. We also provide a preliminary key to the Oxylipeurus-complex.

Parasites in Horses Kept in A 2.5 Year-Round Grazing System in Nordic Conditions without Supplementary Feeding

Horse grazing can be favorable from a biological diversity perspective. This study documented the occurrence of endo- and ectoparasites and sought to reduce parasite egg excretion with the anthelmintic drug pyrantel in 12 Gotlandsruss stallions maintained in a year-round grazing system for 2.5 years. Feces samples were collected monthly and all horses were treated with pyrantel, the anthelmintic drug of choice in biological diversity preservation, at study population mean cyathostomin eggs per gram (EPG) of >200. The relationship between cyathostomin EPG and body condition was studied, as was horse behavioral response to Bovicola equi (chewing louse) infestation. Eggs of cyathostomins (small strongyles), Parascaris spp. (roundworm), Oxyuris equi (pinworm), Anoplocephala perfoliata (tapeworm), and Gasterophilus spp. (botfly) were detected at least once during the trial. Excretion of cyathostomin eggs was highest during summer–autumn and increased year-on-year. No relationship was found between cyathostomin EPG and body condition. Infestation with B. equi did not affect the number of scratching sessions compared with unaffected horses. Therefore, in this year-round grazing system, pyrantel treatment had to be complemented with moxidectin to reduce excretion of cyathostomin eggs, thus compromising biological diversity.