Columbina talpacoti (Aves: Columbidae) as a New Host for Diplotriaena delirae (Nematoda: Diplotriaenidae) in Brazil: A Case Based on an Extremely High Worm Burden.

The ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti (Temminck, 1811), is reported herein as a new host for the diplotriaenid nematode Diplotriaena deliraePinto & Noronha, 1970. The host was collected in the municipality of Januária, northern region of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A heavy infection wholly occupied the coelomic cavity and air sacs. The nematodes were also found in the pectoral subcutaneous tissue, an infection site hitherto unknown for these parasites. A total of 262 specimens of D. delirae was found, which surprisingly corresponded to 27% of the host carcass weight. The impacts of the heavy infection with D. delirae on overall host health and population regulation are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]