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The coastline of Argentine Patagonia in the Southwest Atlantic provides highly productive habitats for a variety of aquatic birds. Both resident birds and migratory birds coming for wintering from the high arctic tundra, converge in these wetlands for resting and feeding, which favours parasite transmission. In the course of helminth diversity survey in Patagonian birds, we found a new digenean species belonging to the genus Parorchis (Philophthalmidae). Herein, we describe its complete life cycle and provide the morphological description accompanied by DNA sequence data. Adult specimens were obtained from the resident Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus (Laridae), and Nearctic migratory shorebirds, the Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii and the White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis (Scolopacidae). Rediae of the new species were found in the muricid gastropod Trophon geversianus (Muricidae), whose distribution is restricted to the intertidal and subtidal marine south coasts of Argentina and Chile. Sequences of complete ITS and partial 28S regions confirmed the conspecificity of the rediae from T. geversianus and adults specimens recovered from L. dominicanus and C. fuscicollis. Cercariae emerge from these molluscs and quickly encyst on the substrate including surfaces of the mollusc itself; shorebirds become infected by eating snails. We examine phylogenetic affinities of the new species using partial 28S sequences. Our analysis placed the new species in a clade with other Parorchis spp., which also use muricid gastropods as intermediate hosts. This study contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of marine trematodes in the subpolar region of South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Among Argentinean rodents, only one species of Muridae and seven of Cricetidae were reported as digenean hosts. Despite the available data, the taxonomic diversity of the Digenea from rodents has been little explored. An update on digeneans of Sigmodontinae rodents (Cricetidae-Muroidea) in Cuenca del Plata is provided. New host and geographical data are recorded and taxonomic and ecological data are summarized. Methods: Rodents were collected from 11 localities in the region Cuenca del Plata, Argentina. Moreover, other unidentified specimens from four localities, deposited in the Colección de Helmintología del Museo de La Plata, were studied. Prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance are provided. Results: Eight species of digeneans belonging to four families were identified. Twelve new geographical records for five provinces of Argentina are presented. In addition, six new host–parasite associations are reported. The information is presented in a taxonomic list for each digenean species: site of infection, host records, locality records, and comments. Conclusions: It becomes interesting to explore the diets and habits of each rodent species to understand the dispersal and transmission ability of each group of digeneans. This survey constitutes an update on digeneans of Sigmodontinae rodents in Cuenca del Plata, Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species in the genus Notocotylus (Trematoda, Notocotylidae) are cosmopolitan parasites of mainly aquatic birds and, to a lesser extent, mammals. In this paper we describe Notocotylus primulus n. sp. parasitizing the Crested Duck, Lophonetta specularioides , from the Patagonian coast, southwestern Atlantic Ocean, based on morphological and molecular data. The new species could be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of several features; among them, the position of the genital pore that is prebifurcal and located close to the posterior margin of the oral sucker, a greater number of both ventral papillae and uterine loops, and a large cirrus sac. Molecular results of the ITS2 sequence support the location of this new species in the genus Notocotylus due to a close relationship with Notocotylus malhamensis (the lower genetic distance of the ITS2 sequences). Unlabelled Image • Notocotylus primulus n. sp. is described from Lophonetta specularioides from Argentina. • The new species is morphologically and genetically characterized • It is the first record of a trematode parasite in the endemic Crested Duck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The helminth community of Larus dominicanus (Charadriiformes) is reported from Península Valdés, on the Patagonian coast, Argentina. From March 2000 to April 2004, 29 kelp gulls were collected and dissected. All the birds were parasitized by at least 2 of 18 parasite species: 2 cestodes (1 Tetrabothriidae, 1 Dilepididae), 10 trematodes (2 Echinostomatidae, 3 Microphallidae, 2 Gymnophallidae, 1 Philophthalmidae, 1 Dicrocoeliidae, 1 Diplostomatidae), 4 nematodes (2 Acuariidae, 1 Capillaridae, 1 Anisakidae), and 2 acanthocephalans (Polymorphidae). The mean intensity was 3,204 parasites per host, and all helminths parasitized the gastrointestinal tract or associated glands. The helminth community of L. dominicanus on the Peninsula Valdés coast seems to be richer than those reported by previous authors in other localities in Argentina. This could be due to a greater diversity in prey items available. Nine species are recorded for the first time from the kelp gull and seven species are recorded for the first time from Argentina.