Helminth fauna of Anas undulata, Anas erythrorhyncha, Anas capensis and Anas smithii at Barberspan, South Africa

Abstract

Thirty-four species of gastrointestinal helminths were found in 25 Anas undulata, 21 Anas erythrorhyncha, ten Anas capensis and seven Anas smithii collected at Barberspan, South Africa. Excluding four new taxa, 11 new African records, and 14, 11, 12 and nine new host records were established for Anas undulata, Anas erythrorhyncha, Anas capensis and Anas smithii, respectively. The helminth community included 13 cosmopolitan species, seven species known only from the holarctic, one species known only from the south Pacific and 13 new or unidentified species that appear to be restricted to Africa. The infection levels of the common helminth species in the mainly carnivorous Anas capensis and Anas smithii, were generally much higher than those of species infecting Anas undulata or Anas erythrorhyncha.