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A new syringophilid mite species, Stibarokris nielseni sp. nov., from Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus is described. This finding is the third record of quill mite species for Iceland and the first one outside Galliformes. The new species differs from all other species of this genus in the following characters: tarsal claws of legs III and IV are distinctly more massive and strongly curved in comparison to claws of legs I and II (vs. tarsal claws are similar in shape and size in other Stibarokris species); the hysteronotal teeth are replaced ventrally (vs. situated laterally). The distribution of the quill mites of the genus Stibarokris on birds strongly corresponds to avian lineages grouped in the recently established clade Feraequornithes comprising the orders Pelecaniformes, Suliformes, Ciconiiformes, and Procelariiformes. Of these orders, quill mites were not confirmed only on representatives of Sphenisciformes. Probable explanation could be their highly specialized way of life and/or insufficient sampling efforts. Additionally, considering the recent reconstructions of avian phylogeny, the presence of Stibarokris on flamingos (Phoenicopteriformes), which are distant from Feraequornithes, is most likely the result of successful host switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined 46 Gyrfalcon ( Falco rusticolus) carcasses from Iceland for parasites, including 29 first-year birds and 17 second-year birds and older. Endoparasites observed were the trematodes Cryptocotyle lingua (prevalence 8%), Cryptocotyle concavum (4%), and Strigea sp. (8%); the cestode Mesocestoides sp. (27%); and the nematodes Eucoleus contortus (76%) and Serratospiculum guttatum (7%). Ectoparasites included the astigmatan mite Dubininia accipitrina (47%), a mesostigmatan rhynonyssid mite (4%), the tick Ixodes caledonicus (20%), the mallophagans Degeeriella rufa (90%) and Nosopon lucidum (7%), the flea Ceratophyllus vagabundus (7%), and the louse fly Ornithomya chloropus (7%). Cryptocotyle lingua, C. concavum, S. guttatum, D. accipitrina, I. caledonicus, and N. lucidum are new host records. Of the five most common parasites (prevalence ≥20%) only Mesocestoides sp. showed a significant age relationship, being more prevalent in adult falcons ( P = 0.021). Eucoleus contortus was also more prevalent in adults with marginal statistical significance ( P = 0.058). Frounce, caused by E. contortus (possibly also by Trichomonas gallinae, which was not searched for in the survey) was highly prevalent (43%), but did not show a relationship with host age ( P = 0.210). Birds with frounce were in poorer body condition than healthy birds ( P = 0.015). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of the parasite fauna of rock ptarmigan or Lagopus muta in northeast Iceland. It identified 6 endoparasites, 8 ectoparasites, feather lice and the louse fly. P. serpentulus, A. lagopi and the zoonotic parasite Blastocystis sp. comprise new host records. The samples were taken from 100 rock ptarmigan, an equal number of juvenile males and females and 20 each of adult males and females collected in October 2006.