FIRST RECORD OF FIVE NEMATODE SPECIES IN SOME WATER BIRDS FROM AL-HAMMAR MARSH, SOUTH OF IRAQ

Abstract

ABSTRACT Parasitological investigation of piscivorous birds in Al-Hammar marsh south of Iraq during December-February 2004 and December 2005 were revealed that water birds infected with five nematode species, which belong to three different superfamilies, Desmidocercella numidica(Seurat, 1920) (Superfamily: Aproctoidea) from three piscivorous birds including Grey heron Ardea cinerea, Bittern Botaurusstellaris, and small white heronArdeola ralloides; Avioserpens sp. 1 and Avioserpens sp. 2 (Superfamily: Dracunculoidea) from small bittern Ixobrychus minutus and black glossy ibis Plegadisfalcinellus respectively; Baruscapillaria sp. and Baruscapillarinae gen. sp. (Superfamily: Trichinellida) from Grey heron and Little egret Egrettagrazetta respectively. All these parasites were described and recorded for the first time in Iraq, furthermore Aproctoidea and Dracunculoidea were recorded for the first time in Iraq.