HELMINTHS OF THE ROSEATE SPOONBILL, AJAIA-AJAJA, IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA

One hundred and thirty-six nestling, and adult roseate spoonbills, Aja ja ajaja, were collected from southern Florida and examined for parasi tic helminths. One hundred and twenty-one (89%) of the birds were infe cted with at least I of 28 species of helminths including 15 trematode s, 7 nematodes, 3 cestodes, and 3 acanthocephalans. Twenty species are new host records, while 7 are reported from Florida for the first tim e. Of the parasites studied, the prevalence of Echinochasmus dietzevi and the intensity of infection of Contracaecum multipapillatum showed statistically significant differences between sexes and amount of body fat, respectively. Generally, the prevalence and intensity of helmint hs were significantly higher in older roseate spoonbills and in birds from eastern Florida Bay colonies. In addition, the prevalence and/or intensity of infection of the trematodes Phagicola longa, Microphallus turgidus, and Ascocotyle mcintoshi and of the nematode Contracaecum m ultipapillatum varied significantly between years. These differences w ere attributed to hydropattern changes on the roseate spoonbill's feed ing grounds through the years.