Bull 27 Azhar A. Al-Moussawi Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. (2014) 13 (1): 27-34 STOMACH NEMATODES OF THE SHOVELER ANAS CLYPEATA LINNAEUS, 1758 (ANSERIFORMES:ANATIDAE) WINTERING IN IRAQ Azhar A. Al-Moussawi Iraq Natural History Museum, University of Baghdad, Bab Al-Muadham, Baghdad, Iraq E-mails: azhar.nhm@gmail.com; ahmeda_09@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Three Spirurid nematodes: Amidostomoides acutum (Lundahl,1848) Seurat, 1918, Epomidiostomum uncinatum (Lundahl,1848) Seurat, 1918 and Tetrameres sp. Creplin,1846 were isolated from the stomach (provenrticulus and gizzard) of the shoveler Anas clypeata from central Iraq. A brief description, morphometric and meristic characters for the nematodes were provided.Incidence of the three nematodes discussed with pertinent literatures. Key words: Iraq, Shoveler, Spirurid nematodes, Amidostomoides acutum,Epomidiostomum uncinatum, Tetrameres sp. INTRODUCTION The Shoveler, Anas clypeata Linnaeus, 1758 is a widespread duck. It is a very common visitor in Iraq, and constitutes the second most wintering duck in number after Anas crecca (Salim et al. 2006). Worms of Tetrameres are among the most common parasites of waterfowl (Bergan et al., 1994; Cole and Friend,1999), as well as the species of Amidostomoides and Epomidiostomum. Gizzard worm infection is considered as contributing factor for losses in birds (Herman and Wehr,1954),because mature worms feed on blood (Fedynich & Thomas,2008) causing death for birds at high intensity of infection, for example A. acutum (Cole and Friend,1999). Little is known about the parasites harbored by A.clypeata in Iraq, it was found infected with four trematodes: Echinostoma sp., E. revolutum, Notocotylus sp. and N. urbanensis (Mhaisen,1994; Mizhir,2002 and Al-Awadi et al.,2010). This study aims to investigate the stomach helminthes of this wintering bird in Iraq. MATERIALS AND METHODES Twenty two of the shoveler (10 males and 12 females) were collected in Baghdad during the period from September to November, 2012. Birds were identified according to (Allouse,1962) and Salim et al.(2006). The provenrticulus and gizzard for each duck separated and examined for parasites by the dissecting microscope (Kruss) and the compound microscope (Olympus BH). Three nematode species were isolated, killed and preserved in 70% ethanol, cleared by lactophenol and identified according to (Yamaguti,1961) and Yorke and Maplestone(1962). Measurements are in millimeters given as means followed by the range in parentheses, 28 Stomach Nematodes Of The Shoveler calculated using ocular and stage micrometers. Photomicrographs were taken with a digital camera Infinity lite-K100. RESULTS Amidostomoides acutum (Fig.1) Synonyms: Strongylus acutus Lundahl, 1848 (Cram,1927), Amidostomum anatinum Sugimoto 1928, A. fuligulae Maplestone 1930, A. orientale Rijikov et Pavlov 1959(Czapliński, 1962a). Fourteen worms were isolated from the koilin lining of the gizzards in the present study. It is reddish worm, body cylindrical, attenuated interiorly, cuticle transversely striated. Mouth opening surrounded with four papillae, the conical tooth at the apex is situated on dorsal plate of bottom of buccal capsule. Pharynx cylindrical widening toward back. Male:Eight males were isolated. Body 9.70 (9.22 -10.62) long, 0.17 (0.14-0.19) wide, dorsal tooth 0.0040 (0.003 -0.005) long, internal diameter of buccal capsule 0.012 (0.011-0.013), its depth is 0.010 (0.009 – 0.015). Pharynx 0.612 (0.566- 0.740) long, 0.038 (0.032-0.056) width. Nerve ring distance from anterior end 0.321(0.264-0.374). Spicules equal or almost equal, with three branches 0.131(0.129 - 0.158) long. Female: Six females were isolated. They are larger than males 16.44(14.31-18.11) long, 0.19 (0.15 - 0.25) wide. Dorsal tooth 0.007 (0.007- 0.008)long. Internal diameter of buccal capsule 0.013 (0.012- 0.014), its depth 0.015 (0.012-0.017). Nerve ring distance from anterior end 0.321 (0.290- 0.397).Vulva distance from posterior end of the body 2.98 (2.65- 3.99). Eggs 0.072 (0.053-0.104) X 0.059(0.038- 0.0936). Tail length 0.342 (0.312- 0.424). Epomidiostomum uncinatum (Fig.2) Synonyms: Epomidiostomum anatinum Skrjabin,1916; Amidostomum anatinum BayLis,1928; Strongylus uncinatus Lundhal, 1848 (Czaplinski, 1962b; Yorke and Maplestone, 1962). Seven worms were isolated. It is a slender worm. Mouth directed straight towards, the oral opening surrounded with 6 cephalic appendages. Buccal capsule short. Male: Four males were isolated, shorter and thinner than female. Body 6.72(6.62-7.95) long, 0.150 (0.153- 0.245) wide. Inner diameter of buccal capsule 0.009(0.007-0.010), its depth 0.008 (0.006-0.009). Pharynx 0.870 (0.744-0.890) long, 0.050 (0.048-0.067) wide. Excretory pore at 0.382 (0.378-0.400) from the anterior end of the body. The nerve ring 0.070 (0.056-0.078), It distance 0.234 (0.227-0.250) from anterior end. Two brown equal or nearly equal spicules 0. 124(0.117- 0.135) long, the distal end of each one is cleaved into three unequal branches. Female: Three females isolated. Body 10.42(9.67-11.21) long, 0.223 (0.200-0.276)wide at vulva region. Pharynx 1.036(0.890-1.122) long, 0.065(0.050-0.087) wide. Excretory pore at 0.386 (0.340-0.450) from the anterior end of the body. Nerve ring 0.054(0.050- 0.062), at a distance 0.322 (0.275-0.437) from anterior end. The vulva is smooth, behind the middle of the body, it placed at a distance of 2.45 (2. 42- 3.00)from the posterior end. Eggs 0.75(0.67-0.77)long, 0.040 (0.037-0-055) wide. Body narrows behind the anus rapidly. 29 Azhar A. Al-Moussawi Tetrameres sp. (Fig.3) Synonyms: Yamaguti (1961) considered the genus Tetrameres as a synonym of Tropisurus. Description: The description of this worm based only on a single male found free in the lumen of the proventriculus of one shoveler female. It is white and filiform with spines on the cuticle. Body cylindrical, with pointed posterior end, 3.912 long, 0.096 wide,gold-brown to dark-brown irregular artifacts were noticed distributed on the body, concentrated in the first anterior quarter of it. Four longitudinal series of spines on the body, commence at the level of the posterior end of the buccal capsule at the distance of 0.024 from anterior extremity. Nerve ring located at 0.022 from anterior extremity. Two unequal spicules, the spicules lengths are 0.090 and 0.225. Gubernaculum absent. Tail pointed posteriorly. Postanal papillae or spines seems five or six pairs in addition to few spines. DISCUSSION In the present study the specimens of A. acutum were more than those of E.uncinatum. This result agrees with Kinsella and Forrester(1972) and Fedynich and Thomas(2008). Also there are three cases of double infection for A.clypeata with the gizzard nematodes A. acutum and E. uncinatum. Multiple infection with genera and species of gizzard worms can occur within a single individual bird(Tuggle and Crites,1984). The present finding agrees with (Hussen et al., 2012), and (Kavetska et al., 2012) who had confirmed the presence of mixed nematode infection,including Amidostomoides and Epomidiostomum in their study. The present findings of A. acutum agree with Czaplinski (1962a)who gave the first detailed description of the morphology for A.acutum after the original description of Lundahl 1848. It was isolated from Anas clpeata, A. crecca, A.fuligula, A. fusca, A. mollissima, A. nigra, A. penelope, A. platyrhynchos, A.querquedula, A.strepera, Anser anser, Eider molissimus, Melanitta fusca, Nettion crecca, Oidemia nigra, Fuligula fuligula, Fulica atra (Cram, 1927; Czaplinski,1962a; Broderson et al.,1977; Borgsteede, 2005 and Kavetska et al.,2011). In Iraq, A. acutum was found in the gizzards of Netta rufina and Anas platyrhynchos by Shubber (2006) and Mohammad and Al-Moussawi (2011) respectively. E.uncinatum was recorded by Mohammad and Al-Moussawi(2011) from Anas platyrhynchos. Hamza (2009) recorded Epomidiostumum sp. in local chickens. The most features of Tetrameres specimen in the present study agree with T.fissispina of Cram (1927) and Johnston and Mawson(1950). However, decision on specific identify of the worm to the species level needs more male and female specimens. Tetrameres spp. are cosmopolitan, the most hosts are aquatic birds. They were found in Anseriform birds: T. fissispina isolated from Anas superciliosa, T. crami from A. clypeata, T. pavonis found in Aythya marila and A. fuligula, T.somateriae in Melanitta fusca,T. spinosa observed exclusively in Aythyini (Johnston and Mawson,1950, Broderson et al.,1977 and Kavetska et al., 2012), and in birds of other orders: Ardeiformes, Charadriiformes, Galliformes,Gruiformes and Passeriformes (Cram,1927; Johnston and Mawson,1950; Broderson et al.,1977, Kinsella and Forrester, 2008 and Kavetska et al.,2012). In Iraq Tetrameres sp. was recorded from Anas strepera, Anas querquedula, Aythya ferina, Fulica atra, Gallinula chloropus, Netta rufina and Porphyrio poliocephalus (Abdullah, 1988; Al-Mayah, 1990; Mizhir, 2002; Shubber, 2006 and Al-Awadi,et al., 2010). 30 Stomach Nematodes Of The Shoveler In view of the present findings, it is obvious that the shoveler and other waterfowl birds as well as other Iraqi birds need more attention and more detailed studies. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author is grateful to Prof. Dr. Mohammad K. Mohammad, Iraq Natural History Museum, University of Baghdad for checking the text. Thanks are due to Hind Diya, Khalida Ibraheem and Zainab Alwan, for their kind help in laboratory preparations. LITERATURE CITED Abdullah,1988 Cited in Mhaisen, F.T. 1994. Helminth Parasites of Aquatic Birds of Basrah Province Marshy Area, Iraq. Jpn. J.Parasitol.,43(4): 274-279. Al-Awadi, H.M.H; Mhaisen, F.T. and Al-Joborae, F.F. 2010. Helminth parasitic fauna of aquatic birds in Bahr Al-Najaf depression, mid Iraq. Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. 11 (2): 7-15. Allouse, B.E.1961. Birds of Iraq. Ar-Rabitta Press, Baghdad: 280pp. (in Arabic). Al-Mayah, S.H.1990. Helminths of some aquatic birds and notes about swimmer’s itch in Basrah. M. Sc. Thesis, Univ. Basrah: 103pp. (In Arabic). Bergan, J.F., Radomski, A. A., Pence, D. B. and Rhodes, O.E.,Jr. 1994. Tetrameres (Petrowimeres) striata in ducks. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 30(3): 351-358. 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Intersci. Pub. Inc., New York: 779pp. 32 Stomach Nematodes Of The Shoveler Yorke,W. and Maplestone, P.A. 1962. The nematode parasites of vertebrates. Haf. Pub.Com., New York: 536pp. 33 Azhar A. Al-Moussawi 34 Stomach Nematodes Of The Shoveler Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. (2014) 13 (1): 27-34 الُمَشّتي في أ Anas clypeata Linnaeus, 1758(أبو مجرف)الديدان الخيطية في معدة العراق أزهار أحمد الموسوي مركز بحوث ومتحف التاريخ الطبيعي، جامعة بغداد، باب المعظم، بغداد، العراق ;azhar.nhm@gmail.com; ahmeda_09@yahoo.com :البريد االلكتروني لخالصةا Anas clypeata تم الحصول على ثالثة أنواع من الديدان الخيطية من معدة أبو مجرف Amidostomoides acutum (Lundahl,1848) :وهي ، المجموع من وسط العراق Seurat, 1918 وEpomidiostomum uncinatum (Lundahl,1848) Seurat, .Tetrameres sp. Creplin,1846و 1918 هم الدراسات المحلية ألتم توضيح أهم الصفات الشكلية المستخدمة في التشخيص، و إستعراض .للديدان الثالثة ومناقشتها ومقارنتها مع الدراسات االخرى