title: Philornis sp. bot fly larvae in free living scarlet macaw nestlings and a new technique for their extraction.
abstract: Bot fly larvae (Philornis genus) are obligate subcutaneous blood-feeding parasites of Neotropical birds including psittacines. We analyze twelve years of data on scarlet macaw (Ara macao) nestlings in natural and artificial nests in the lowland forests of southeastern Peru and report prevalence and intensity of Philornis parasitism. Bot fly prevalence was 28.9% while mean intensity was 5.0 larvae per infected chick. Prevalence in natural nests (11%, N=90 nestlings) was lower than in wooden nest-boxes (39%, N=57) and PVC boxes (39%, N=109). We describe a new technique of removing Philornis larvae using a reverse syringe design snake bite extractor. We compare this new technique to two other methods for removing bots from macaw chicks and find the new method the most suitable.
authors: Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Medicine, Biology & Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Tambopata Macaw Project, Madre de Dios, Peru.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Olah
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Vigo
authors: Lizzie
authors: L
authors: Ortiz
authors: Lajos
authors: L
authors: Rozsa
authors: Donald J
authors: DJ
authors: Brightsmith
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy; D003372:Coumaphos / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D009198:Myiasis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010311:Parrots; D001074:Propoxur / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077145:Sulfanilamide; D013424:Sulfanilamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007306:Insecticides; D013424:Sulfanilamides; D000077145:Sulfanilamide; D001074:Propoxur; D003372:Coumaphos
keywords: Ara macao; Ectoparasitism; Extraction technique; Philornis bot fly; Scarlet macaw