Long-term study reveals central European aerial insectivores as an unusual group of hosts that harbor mostly helminths that are unable to complete life-cycles in the nesting quarters of their hosts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Central European aerial insectivores are long-distance migrants that winter in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of them employ the fly-and-forage migrating strategy and differ in their food composition. The composition and structure of helminth component communities of these hosts are poorly understood, and information regarding seasonality and long-term changes is unavailable.

Methods

From 1963 to 2022, we analyzed the population trends of helminths in five aerial insectivore species. Namely, we examined Apus apus, Hirundo rustica, Delichon urbicum, Riparia riparia, and Ficedula albicollis; all originated from the Czech Republic.

Results

We identified central European aerial insectivores as hosts that are parasitized mostly by helminths that cannot complete their

SUBMITTER: Sitko J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9878787 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature