Abstract
Introduction: Birds (Class Aves) are one of the most varied categories of vertebrates with over 9,000 species found on the planet and able to inhabit vastly different environments. They are important ecologically, as they are involved in seed dispersal, pollination and scavenging, and as biological control of harmful insects, small vertebrates as well as having economic value as providers of animal protein to humans in many areas. Birds due to their mobility and various habitats act as hosts to a wide range of parasites and especially the ectoparasites which can have a major impact on the health, survival and reproductive success.
Methods: In this study, chewing lice infestation was studied in Dunlin birds (Calidris alpina) found in various locations in the Al-Diwaniyah Province of Iraq where 54 birds were collected between September 2023 and April 2024.
Results: Five species of chewing lice were isolated and identified after careful examination, they include: Actornithophilus umbrinus (35.18%), Austromenopon alpinum (29.62%), Carduiceps sp. (24.07%), Lunaceps actophilus (24.07%), and Lunaceps drosti (16.66%). One hundred and forty infested birds were identified totaling 62.96 infestation rate. There was a statistically significant difference between male and female birds (P≤0.05), with the male having a higher infestation rate (72.41%) than females (52%). Infestation pattern analysis showed that there was a significant difference (P 0.05) in patterns of infestation with single infestation being the most common (76.47%), then followed by double (50) and triple infestations (20.58).
Conclusion: The results of the current paper are the initial record of chewing lice species infesting Calidris alpina in Iraq. These findings add a useful contribution to the literature on the avian ectoparasite in migratory birds and underscore the role of gender of the host and ecological conditions on dynamics of infestation. Surveillance of migratory birds is also advisable to get a clearer insight into host-parasite interactions and patterns of chewing-lice species distribution in the area.