Parasite findings in the MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (Grey, 1832), and considerations on the parasite fauna of bustards and the systematic position of some of the parasites

Samples from 1,254 MacQueen's bustards (Chlamydotis macqueenii) were sent for parasitological examination to the department of parasitology of the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory between 2003 and 2022. The birds originated from sanctuaries where confiscated birds were kept but also from from zoos and private collections or were bred in captivity and released to conservation areas where they got injured or died for various reasons. The material consisted of mainly of intestines and faecal samples as well as heads, stomachs, muscles samples and cysts, isolated helminths, ecto-parasites and fly larvae. A total of 419 birds (33.4 %) were positive for parasites and the following endoparasites were found: Five protozoans (Eumonospora megafalconis, two species of the genus Sarcocystis, Trichomonas gallinae, unidentified intestinal flagellates), one trematode (Philophthalmus gralli), five cestodes (Ascometra vestita, Otiditaenia conoideis, Idiogenes otidis, Raillietina neyrai, Hispaniolepis falsata), six nematodes (Subuluridae sp., Hartertia rotundata, Histiocephalus skrjabini, Dispharynx nasuta, Synhimanthus sp., Paraspiralatus sakeri, unidentified encysted nematode larvae) and three acanthocephalans (Empodius taeniatus, Spherirostris embae, Centrorhynchus aluconis). The fauna of ectoparasites included the mallophage Otidoecus houbarae and the flea Echidnophaga gallinacea. In addition, fly maggots belonging to the family Sarcophagidae (Sarcophaga dux, Wohlfahrtia nuba) and to the Calliphoridae family (Chrysomya albiceps) were found on and in submitted houbara carcasses.