Gastrointestinal parasites of wild blue fronted amazons in Chaco, Argentina

Abstract

From capture to final destination, wild parrots experience several condi-tions during transport which enhance/promote chances of infections and transmission of diseases. A better understanding of the prevalence of parasites in wild blue-fronted am-azons (Amazona aestiva) will allow a more efficient control of the parasitosis in those individuals destined to captivity. Furthermore, it will be helpful in determining which parasites are specific to the blue-fronted amazons and which are the result of infections from other host species during the commercialization process. The objective of this study was to establish the baseline of gastrointestinal parasites of wild blue-fronted am-azons in the Chaco region. We collected fecal samples of 38 nestlings and 4 adults, and examined four dead nestlings. One-third of examined nests (n=21) and one quarter of the individuals examined were positive for protozoa and helminths. At the individual level, Eimeria sp was the most prevalent (25%), followed by Isospora sp (5%), Giarda lamblia (5%), Capillaria sp (2%) and Ascaridia sp (2%). The tests for parasites in the viscera of the four nestlings found dead from natural causes weres negative. As in most wild studies, the prevalence of intestinal parasites in blue-fronted amazons was low, when compared to the parasitic infection levels reported for parrots in captivity. Be-cause the nestlings of this parrot are frequently captured for pet trade, knowledge of the assemblage and prevalence of intestinal parasites of the species in wild individuals can be useful for the treatment of nestlings destined for captivity.