Dispersal of avian ectoparasites can occur through either vertical transmission from adult birds to their offspring in the nest or through horizontal transmission between adult birds or through phoresy. In this study, we investigated the importance of the 2 main transmission modes in the colonial European bee-eater and examined whether individual differences in ectoparasite intensity exist in relation to age, sex, and morphological features of the birds. The intensity of 3 chewing lice species was investigated. Almost all adult bee-eaters (98.3%, n = 176) were infested with 1 of the 3 ectoparasite species, whereas only 10.8% (n = 167) of all chicks were infested. Meropoecus meropis was the most frequent ectoparasite species on adult bee-eaters (prevalence 94.3%), whereas Meromenopon meropis was the most common species on chicks (prevalence 9.6%). Our results suggest that chewing lice are mainly horizontally transmitted among adult bee-eaters and mainly among pair members, whereas vertical transmission between parents and nestlings is less frequent. These conclusions were supported by a relation in ectoparasite intensity of pair members and a parasite removal experiment. Ectoparasite intensity was in general low in nestlings and did not correlate with ectoparasite intensity of their parents. Host age, sex, weight, and other morphological features did not explain variation in chewing lice infestation.
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April 2001
ECTOPARASITOLOGY|
April 01 2001
HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ECTOPARASITE TRANSMISSION OF THREE SPECIES OF MALOPHAGA, AND INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN EUROPEAN BEE-EATERS (MEROPS APIASTER)
Alzbeta Darolova;
Alzbeta Darolova
Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 842 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Herbert Hoi;
Herbert Hoi
Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 842 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
* Konrad Lorenz Institut fü Vergleichende verhaltensforschung, Savoyenstrasse 1a, A-1160 Vienna, Austria.
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Jan Kristofik;
Jan Kristofik
Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 842 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Christine Hoi
Christine Hoi
Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 842 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
* Konrad Lorenz Institut fü Vergleichende verhaltensforschung, Savoyenstrasse 1a, A-1160 Vienna, Austria.
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J Parasitol (2001) 87 (2): 256–262.
Citation
Alzbeta Darolova, Herbert Hoi, Jan Kristofik, Christine Hoi; HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ECTOPARASITE TRANSMISSION OF THREE SPECIES OF MALOPHAGA, AND INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN EUROPEAN BEE-EATERS (MEROPS APIASTER). J Parasitol 1 April 2001; 87 (2): 256–262. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2001)087[0256:HAVETO]2.0.CO;2
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