Microtetrameres cloacitectus in Eurasian buzzard (Buteo buteo): pathology, phylogenetics, and seasonality.

Abstract

Microtetrameres cloacitectus is a nematode of the family Tetrameridae Travassos, 1914, parasitising the proventricular glands of diurnal raptors. First described by Oschmarin (1956) from the Eurasian buzzard (Buteo buteo) in Primorsky Krai, Russia, it has since been reported in several raptor species. Between 2017 and 2024, 88 deceased Eurasian buzzards were collected from various regions in Romania. For each specimen, GPS coordinates, sex, and age were recorded, and full parasitological necropsies were performed. One individual (over three-year-old male found as roadkill in Tureni, Cluj County, Northwestern Romania) had Microtetrameres-like nematodes; a section of its proventriculus was preserved in 10% formalin for histopathological examination. In the remaining positive cases, nematodes were preserved in ethanol for molecular analyses and in 4% formalin for morphological identification. Overall, 25 buzzards were infected with M. cloacitectus, resulting in a prevalence of 28.4% (95% CI 20.0-38.6%). A total of 779 specimens (464♀, 315♂) were recovered, with an intensity range of 1-316 parasites (mean = 31.2). Infections showed a seasonal pattern, peaking in summer, and were more frequent in birds over 2 years old. Molecular analysis yielded a novel cox1 sequence and revealed new phylogenetic relationships. Histopathology revealed multifocal glandular distention and inflammatory nodules centred on parasites. This study provides the first comprehensive parasitological, molecular, and histopathological characterisation of M. cloacitectus in Romania.