Ms. Sepulveda et al., HELMINTHS OF THE ROSEATE SPOONBILL, AJAIA-AJAJA, IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA, Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 61(2), 1994, pp. 179-189
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.