Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) species on wild birds in Cappadocia region, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed on 70 injured wild birds belonging to 7 different species in the Cappadocia region between 2005 and 2009. All birds were inspected for ectoparasites and 29 of 70 (41.4%) birds were found to be infested by at least one chewing louse species.

METHODS

All lice were cleared in 10% KOH, mounted in Canada balsam on slides and identified under a light microscope.

RESULTS

The lice were identified as Laemobothrion maximum, Craspedorrhynchus platystomus, Degeeriella fulva and Colpocephalum nanum from the long-legged buzzards (Buteo rufinus), as C. platystomus, L. maximum, D. fulva and C. nanum from the common buzzards (Buteo buteo), as D. fulva and Colpocephalum sp. from the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), as Colpocephalum milvi and L. maximum from the black kites (Milvus migrans), as Strigiphilus barbatus from the long-eared owl (Asio otus), as Comatomenapon elongatum from the great egret (Egretta alba) and as Colpocephalum zebra from the white stork (Ciconia ciconia).

CONCLUSION

Honey buzzard was found as a new host for Degeeriella fulva and Colpocephalum sp. and these lice were recorded for the first time in this study. Colpocephalum milvi from the black kite and Comatomenapon elongatum from the great egret have been reported for the first time with this study in Turkey.