The parasites of the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) as an indicator of health status and quality of the environment
The mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a host to internal and external parasites. A heavy parasite burden indicates poor immunological status and a pathogen-contaminated environment. The present study describes the macroscopic and microscopic examination of isolated intestines and gizzards of 130 mallard ducks from birds kept in the breeding farm. Scrapings of intestinal mucosa were examined by flotation and with the sedimentation method. The results of the flotation method indicate the presence of coccidia oocysts in the ileum scrapings from one of five male mallards aged six weeks, one out of five aged 10 weeks and three out of five aged 12 weeks. In female mallards, oocysts were found in two of five birds aged 12 weeks and in two of five aged 16 weeks. No macroscopic lesions were found in the intestinal mucosa. Adult forms of the nematode Amidostomum anseris were found in the gizzards of six mallards aged 20 weeks and in two aged 22 weeks. The relatively low prevalence of parasitic infections reflects the purity of the environment, good immunity status of the birds and good management of the farm.
Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, ul. Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Rajmund
R
Sokół
Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, ul. Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Małgorzata
MA
Raś-Noryńska
Department of Pathological Anatomy, University of Warmia and Mazury, ul. Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Michał
MA
Gesek
Department of Commodity Science and Animal Improvement, University of Warmia and Mazury, ul. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Daria
D
Murawska
Department of Landscape Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, Studentska 13, 370-05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Vladimir
V
Hanzal
Department of Fur-Bearing Animal Breeding and Game Management, University of Warmia and Mazury, ul. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Paweł
PE
Janiszewski
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D003044:Coccidia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004372:Ducks; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D008297:Male