New data on the chewing lice (Psocodea: Phthiraptera) of domestic and wild birds in Türkiye.

This study was carried out to detect the chewing lice species of domestic and wild birds in Türkiye, between the years of 2014-2021, and whether there is a correlation between the number of bird species and individuals and the prevalence, mean intensity and species of chewing lice. For this purpose, 206 bird samples as injured, or found dead on roads and gardens between these dates, in seventeen orders were examined for chewing lice. Of the 206 wild birds examined, 135 (65.53%) were infested with lice. A total of 73, of which 34 were Amblyceran and 39 were Ischnoceran chewing lice species, were identified. The genera Acidoproctus, Aegypoecus, Bonomiella, Esthiopterum, Gruimenopon, Heleonomus, Neopsittaconirmus, and the species Acidoproctus moschatae, Aegypoecus spp. (nymph), Amyrsidea minuta, Ardeicola maculatus, Ardeicola stellaris, Bonomiella columbae, Brueelia tasniemae, Colpocephalum nigrae, Colpocephalum percnopteri, Colpocephalum zerafae, Ciconiphilus pectiniventris, Esthiopterum gruis, Goniodes pavonis, Gruimenopon longum, Guimaraesiella amsel, Heleonomus macilentus, Kurodaia cryptostigmata, Kurodaia subpachygaster, Menacanthus kaddoui, Myrsidea isostoma, Neophilopterus tricolor, Neopsittaconirmus spp. (nymph), Pseudomenopon dolium, and Rallicola minutus are reported here for the first time. Based on statistical analysis, the host species and individual numbers are correlated with lice species numbers. It was also found that the host individual number is correlated with the mean intensity of the lice. Our results indicate that a large number of samples belonging to different host species are important in terms of data reliabilty.

Presence of Paraspidodera uncinata (Nematoda: Heterakidae) and Gyropus ovalis (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) in a wild specimen of Cavia aperea (Rodentia: Caviidae) from the campus of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.

An adult specimen of Cavia aperea was transferred to the Wild Animal Practice, in the Department of Wildlife and Natural Environment, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of Asunción. Fecal samples and necropsy samples revealed the presence of Paraspidodera uncinata in the digestive tract, and Gyropus ovalis. This is the first documented report of the presence of P. uncinata and G. ovalis in a wild specimen of Cavia aperea in Paraguay.

Chromosome-level genome of the poultry shaft louse Menopon gallinae provides insight into the host-switching and adaptive evolution of parasitic lice.

BACKGROUND: Lice (Psocodea: Phthiraptera) are one important group of parasites that infects birds and mammals. It is believed that the ancestor of parasitic lice originated on the ancient avian host, and ancient mammals acquired these parasites via host-switching from birds. Here we present the first chromosome-level genome of Menopon gallinae in Amblycera (earliest diverging lineage of parasitic lice). We explore the transition of louse host-switching from birds to mammals at the genomic level by identifying numerous idiosyncratic genomic variations. RESULTS: The assembled genome is 155 Mb in length, with a contig N50 of 27.42 Mb. Hi-C scaffolding assigned 97% of the bases to 5 chromosomes. The genome of M. gallinae retains a basal insect repertoire of 11,950 protein-coding genes. By comparing the genomes of lice to those of multiple representative insects in other orders, we discovered that gene families of digestion, detoxification, and immunity-related are generally conserved between bird lice and mammal lice, while mammal lice have undergone a significant reduction in genes related to chemosensory systems and temperature. This suggests that mammal lice have lost some of these genes through the adaption to environment and temperatures after host-switching. Furthermore, 7 genes related to hematophagy were positively selected in mammal lice, suggesting their involvement in the hematophagous behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Our high-quality genome of M. gallinae provides a valuable resource for comparative genomic research in Phthiraptera and facilitates further studies on adaptive evolution of host-switching within parasitic lice.

Chewing lice of Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) and diversity of louse-host associations of birds in reed beds in Slovakia.

A total of 1,621 wild birds representing 34 species were examined for chewing lice in reed beds in southwestern Slovakia during the pre-breeding migration 2008-2009 and 2016-2019. A total of 377 (23.3%) birds representing 15 species were parasitized by 26 species of chewing lice of 12 genera. Dominant genera were Penenirmus (with dominance 32.6%) and Menacanthus (29.4%), followed by Brueelia (12.6%), Acronirmus (10.8%), Philopterus (7.7%), and Myrsidea (4.2%). We evaluated 33 host-louse associations including both 1) host-generalist, parasitizing more than one host species and host-specific lice, occurring only on a single host species, and 2) lice species with large range geographic distribution, reported across the range of the distribution of their hosts and lice species with only occasional records from a limited area within the range of their hosts. The Bearded Reedling, Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758), was parasitized by two species of chewing lice, Menacanthus brelihi Balát, 1981 and Penenirmus visendus (Zlotorzycka, 1964), with conspicuously different prevalences (5.6% vs. 58.2%, respectively; n = 251). New material enabled us to redescribe both species of lice: the first one is resurrected from previous synonymy as a valid species. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene was sequenced from these two species in order to assess their relative phylogenetic position within their genera. Our study demonstrates the importance of an adequate identification of parasites, especially on rarely examined and endangered hosts.

Title: Mallophages de la Panure à moustaches (Panurus biarmicus) et diversité des associations mallophages-hôtes des oiseaux dans les roselières en Slovaquie. Abstract: Au total, 1 621 oiseaux sauvages représentant 34 espèces ont été examinés à la recherche de mallophages dans les roselières du sud-ouest de la Slovaquie au cours de la migration de pré-reproduction 2008­2009 et 2016­2019. Parmi ceux-ci, 377 oiseaux (23,3 %), représentant 15 espèces, étaient parasités par 26 espèces de mallophages de 12 genres. Les genres dominants étaient Penenirmus (avec une dominance de 32,6 %) et Menacanthus (29,4 %), suivis de Brueelia (12,6 %), Acronirmus (10,8 %), Philopterus (7,7 %) et Myrsidea (4,2 %). Nous avons évalué 33 associations mallophage-hôte comprenant à la fois 1) des espèces de mallophages généralistes, parasitant plus d'une espèce hôte, et des mallophages spécifiques, présents uniquement sur une seule espèce hôte et 2) des espèces de mallophages ayant une large répartition géographique, signalées à travers l'étendue de la répartition de leurs hôtes, et des espèces de mallophages avec seulement des observations occasionnelles dans une zone limitée à l'intérieur de l'aire de répartition de leurs hôtes. La Panure à moustaches, Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758), était parasitée par deux espèces de mallophages, Menacanthus brelihi Balát, 1981 et Penenirmus visendus (Zlotorzycka, 1964), avec des prévalences nettement différentes (respectivement 5,6 % et 58,2 %, n = 251). Du nouveau matériel nous a permis de redécrire les deux espèces de mallophages, la première étant ressuscitée de la synonymie précédente en tant qu'espèce valide. Un fragment du gène mitochondrial de la cytochrome oxydase I a été séquencé à partir de ces deux espèces afin d'évaluer leur position phylogénétique relative au sein de leurs genres. Notre étude démontre l'importance d'une identification adéquate des parasites, en particulier sur les hôtes rarement examinés et menacés.

Lice (Phthiraptera, Amblycera, Ischnocera) collected on the birds in the Aras basin in Igdir Province, Türkiye with new records and new host associations.

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera and Amblycera) are permanent ectoparasites of birds and primarly feed on the feathers and scales of birds. To detect the chewing lice species found on birds in Aras basin, Igdir, Türkiye, a total of 240 birds represented by 61 species belonging to 30 families in 13 orders were examined during the 2021 bird migration season. A total of 531 (186 females, 136 males and 209 nymphs) lice were collected from 75 individuals (31,25% of birds examined) of 26 species, 21 families and 10 orders. Thirty-one lice species (11 amblyceran and 20 ischnoceran species) in 22 genera were identified. Of these, 15 lice species were reported for the first time in Türkiye, namely Cuculiphilus fasciatus, Pseudomenopon qadrii, Philopterus sp., Ricinus serratus, Philopterus picae, Rostrinirmus buresi, Sturnidoecus sp., Philopterus excisus, Philopterus microsomaticus, Philopterus coarctatus, Brueelia fuscopleura, Sturnidoecus pastoris, Brueelia currucae, Penenirmus auritus and Strigiphilus tuleskovi. In addition, new host associations were reported for the lice species Kurodaia fulvofasciata, Degeeriella rufa and Myrsidea rustica.

DO PARASITIC LICE EXHIBIT ENDEMISM IN PARALLEL WITH THEIR AVIAN HOSTS? A COMPARISON ACROSS NORTHERN AMAZONIAN AREAS OF ENDEMISM.

Areas of endemism are the smallest units in biogeography and can be defined as biologically unique areas comprising taxa with common geographic limits to their distributions. High beta diversity within Amazonia is often related to turnover among these areas. For decades, evolutionary biologists have tried to comprehend the mechanisms generating and maintaining the spatial structure and high diversity of free-living Amazonian organisms, particularly birds. However, few studies have tried to analyze these patterns among their parasites. Host and parasite associations involve shared history that may allow us to better understand the fine-scale evolutionary history of the host. Here we compare the coevolutionary patterns among 2 avian host species with distinct patterns of genetic structure in northern Amazonia, Dendrocincla fuliginosa (Aves: Dendrocolaptidae) and Dixiphia pipra (Aves: Pipridae), and their ectoparasitic lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera), Furnaricola sp. ex Dendrocincla fuliginosa, Myrsidea sp. ex Dixiphia pipra, and Tyranniphilopterus sp. ex Dixiphia pipra. We obtained sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I from hosts and parasites collected on opposite banks of the Negro and Japurá rivers, which delimit 3 areas of endemism in northern Amazonia: Napo, Jau, and Guiana. Our results demonstrate that the Negro River is a geographical barrier for both Furnaricola sp. and its avian host, Dendrocincla fuliginosa. Phylogenies of both hosts, Dendrocincla fuliginosa, and the parasites, Furnaricola sp., show monophyletic clades on opposite margins of the river that are not sister taxa. These clades have a mean uncorrected p-distance of 17.8% for Furnaricola sp. and 6.0% for Dendrocincla fuliginosa. Thus, these parasite clades constitute distinct evolutionary lineages and may even be distinct species. In contrast, Dixiphia pipra has no population structure associated with either river. Accordingly, data from their lice Myrsidea sp. indicate weak support for different clades on opposite margins of the Negro River, whereas data from their lice Tyranniphilopterus sp. indicate weak structure across the Japurá. This study is a first step toward understanding the effects of biogeographic history on permanent ectoparasites and suggests that host biogeographic history is to some extent a determinant of the parasite's history. Furthermore, the parasite's evolutionary history is an additional source of information about their hosts' evolution in this highly diverse region of northern Amazonia.

An annotated checklist of the chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera, Amblycera, Rhynchophthirina) from domestic and wild mammals in Malaysia.

Literature records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from mammals in Malaysia were checked and reviewed, resulting in a list of 13 confirmed species belonging to eight genera (Bovicola, Felicola, Gliricola, Gyropus, Haematomyzus, Heterodoxus, Lorisicola, Trichodectes) from four families (Boopiidae, Gyropidae, Haematomyzidae, Trichodectidae) in three suborders (Amblycera, Ischnocera, Rhynchophthirina). We present a checklist of those 13 chewing lice recorded from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, including hosts, localities, and literature references. An additional 12 species are listed and discussed as possibly occurring in this country. A host-louse list is also given.

Two new records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) from the Oriental honey buzzard [Pernis ptilorhynchus (Temminck, 1821)] and house crow (Corvus splendens Viellot, 1817) in Malaysia.

We report two new records of chewing lice from avian pets in Peninsular Malaysia: Colpocephalum apivorus Tendeiro, 1958 from an Oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus (Temminck, 1821)), and Myrsidea splendenticola Klockenhoff, 1973 from an albino house crow (Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817). The scarcity of louse records from avian pets and wild birds, and the lack of louse research in Malaysia are discussed.

Review of the chewing louse fauna of the invasive common myna (Acridotheres tristis), with new records from Palestine and a redescription of Brueelia chayanh Ansari, 1955 (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera, Brueelia-complex).

Palestine hosts a large diversity of birds, with 393 recorded species, but little data are available on the chewing lice fauna found on these birds. In this study, we surveyed the species of chewing lice found on the common myna, Acridotheres tristis, which is one of the most invasive bird species in the world. Forty-five mynas were examined to collect their ectoparasites, which were preserved and slide mounted. Among the 1004 chewing lice processed, we identified two species: Menacanthus eurysternus (Burmeister, 1838) (prevalence 100%) and Brueelia chayanh Ansari, 1955 (prevalence 82.2%). No other species of chewing louse known from A. tristis in its native range was found, showing a possible sorting event in the founding population of common myna in the region. Prevalence (100%) and abundance (22.3) were high compared to similar studies of the common myna. To contribute to future research on the lice of common mynas, we provide an annotated checklist of the louse species reported from this host globally. Also, we redescribe and illustrate Brueelia chayanh, and place Sturnidoecus tristisae Bughio et al., 2018 as a new junior synonym of Sturnidoecus bannoo Ansari, 1968.

Low prevalence of chewing lice (Phthiraptera) in wintering populations of the reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus (Aves: Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in the Iberian Peninsula.

The reed bunting is a passerine bird of the Palearctic region, some subspecies suffer a decline in their populations. Four species of lice have been cited in reed bunting, but lice studies have not been carried out in the Iberian Peninsula. Between 2018 and 2020 a wintering population of the reed bunting is sampled in the center of the Iberian Peninsula through mist nets. Lice were collected directly from birds by a visual body examination. Of the 208 reed buntings sampled, only four individuals were parasitized. We find two species: Menacanthus chrysophaeus, which is the first record in Iberian lice, and Brueelia blagovescenskyi. Lice are not associated with the sex or age of the birds. The prevalence obtained is low compared to other European populations. This difference can be explained by the phenology of the subspecies, the migratory populations have a lower load of lice than sedentary populations.

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Chicken Body Louse, Menacanthus cornutus, and Evolutionary Patterns of Extensive Gene Rearrangements in the Mitochondrial Genomes of Amblycera (Psocodea: Phthiraptera).

Animal mitochondrial (mt) genomes are typically double-strand circular DNA molecules, but diverse structural variations have been widely found in multiple groups. In parasitic lice (Phthiraptera), the structure of mt genomes varies remarkably across all five suborders. In this study, we reported the complete mt genome of a chicken body louse, Menacanthus cornutus, which has a typical single circular mt chromosome and drastic mt gene rearrangements. This mt genome is 15,693 bp in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region. A comparison with a typical insect mt genome suggested that two highly similar trnM are present in the mt genome of M. cornutus. Moreover, almost every single gene was rearranged, and over half of mt genes were inverted. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from the mt genome sequences supported the monophyly and position of Amblycera. Mapped over the phylogenetic relationships of Amblycera, we identified two inversion events for the conserved gene blocks in Boopidae and Menoponidae. The inverted ND4L-ND4 was likely a synapomorphic rearrangement in Menoponidae. Our study demonstrated the importance of sequencing mt genomes for additional taxa to uncover the mechanism underlying the structural evolution of the mt genome in parasitic lice.

THE CHEWING LICE OF BROWN BOOBY (SULA LEUCOGASTER) IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL.

The brown booby (Sula leucogaster Boddaert, 1783) has a wide geographic distribution, being found throughout the intertropical range except for the west coast of South America. Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) are ectoparasites commonly found in association with a wide variety of bird species, and extensive infestations can lead to severe itching and irritation that causes skin lesions, damage to the plumage, and abandonment of nests. Sula leucogaster lice have an atypical distribution, not fully following the distribution of their host. In the years 2018 and 2019, 4 marine animal rehabilitation centers located in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil received live birds and carcasses of Sula leucogaster. The animals were deloused and lice of 2 different species were collected. Identification was performed by optical microscopy, and the species found were Eidmanniella albescens Piaget, 1880 and Pectinopygus garbeiPessoa and Guimarães, 1935. This is the first record of both species in Rio de Janeiro.

A new species of Myrsidea (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from Chile.

Myrsidea danielalfonsoi new species is described and illustrated from the Austral thrush (Turdus falcklandii magellanicus King, 1831) in Chile.

An annotated checklist of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) from Slovakia.

This checklist includes taxa of chewing lice from published records, old collections, and recently collected material from birds and mammals in Slovakia. Data from established collections correspond to five different periods: (1) 19251939, collection of Karel Pfleger; (2) 19461978, collection of Frantiek Balt; (3) 19741985, collection of Vladimr Straka; (4) 19972012, collection of J Kritofk; and (5) 20082019, a collection made by the authors of this paper. A total of 255 species of feather lice67 amblyceran species in 22 genera of families Laemobothriidae, Menoponidae and Ricinidae, and 188 ischnoceran species in 54 genera of the family Philopteridaeand 366 host-louse associations are listed from 171 bird species in 21 orders. In addition, eight species of chewing lice in five genera of the family Trichodectidae are listed from eight species of mammals. Species of chewing lice are reported from about 240 different locations throughout the territory of Slovakia. Also, 43 species of lice and 20 host-louse associations for Slovakia, as well as four host-louse associations for the world, are included as new records. A host-louse list of recorded species is also given.

The morphology of Colpocephalum pectinatum (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) under scanning electron microscopy.

Here, we describe under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the morphology of Colpocephalum pectinatum (Phthiraptera, Menoponidae), an ectoparasite found in burrowing owls, Athene cunicularia. We devote particular attention to the morphology of the main structures of the head (antennae and mouth-parts) and legs (tarsi and femoral ctenidia). Moreover, we describe the main peripheral sensory organs, located in the labial palpi and the distal end of antennae. We also detected that the structure of antennae and antennal sensilla arrangement are very similar to that described for other Colpocephalum and Menoponid species, and we discuss the function of each type of sensilla. We suggest that SEM studies combined with other microscopy and physiological techniques could be useful for elucidate the function of each structure, lice behaviour, as well as their taxonomy.

Light and scanning electron microscopy of an ischnoceran louse, Felicola rohani, and an amblyceran louse, Heterodoxus spiniger (Phthiraptera: Insecta) from the Indian grey mongoose, Herpestes edwardsii.

The ischnoceran louse, Felicola rohani Werneck, 1956 is reported for the first time from India on the Indian grey mongoose - Herpestes edwardsii (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818) and the amblyceran louse, Heterodoxus spiniger (Enderlein, 1909) is recorded for the first time from that host species. The lice were collected from freshly accidentally killed specimen of the host, preserved and kept at the Museum of Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-sea, Ganjam Odisha. Detailed morphological descriptions of the lice, based on light and scanning electron microscopy, are presented in this paper.

PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTATIONS ON THE IN VITRO REARING OF HEMATOPHAGOUS PIGEON LOUSE HOHORSTIELLA LATA (AMBLYCERA: PHTHIRAPTERA: INSECTA).

Rearing hematophagous amblyceran lice in vitro is a challenging task. The hematophagous nature and active habits of amblycerans are distinct hurdles to in vitro rearing. The literature indicates only limited success in rearing the hematophagous amblyceran avian louse. Herein we report on the results of in vitro experimentation on an amblyceran pigeon louse, Hohorstiella lata. The incubation period of eggs was 5.47 ± 0.52 days. The durations of first, second, and third nymphal instars were 5.14 ± 0.55, 5.65 ± 0.83, and 6.35 ± 0.82 days, respectively. The average lifespan of adult females (7.45 ± 5.88 days) was higher than adult males (4.61 ± 3.57 days). Adult females laid a lifetime average of 3.73 eggs at a rate of 0.45 eggs/female/day under in vitro conditions (35 ± 1 C, 75-82% relative humidity, feather diet).

Menopon picicola: a new junior synonym of Menacanthus pici (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Menoponidae).

Packard (1873) described Menopon picicola as a new species, based on ten lice taken from two species of woodpeckers of the genus Picoides-P. arcticus (Swainson, 1832) and P. dorsalis Baird, 1858-collected in Wyoming, U.S.A. in August 1872. Considering that (1) Packard (1873) neither designated a holotype nor a single type host, (2) his type material is most likely lost, and (3) no additional lice from either of those two species of Picoides have been reported in the literature, the taxonomic status of Menopon picicola has not been confirmed.

An annotated catalogue of bird lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from Chile.

The species and subspecies of chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) parasitic on Chilean birds are listed and annotated, based on records published until October 2021 and from our examination of collections. The current scientific name, its taxonomic history, data on type material, type host, other hosts, geographic distribution within Chile and elsewhere, Chilean literature references and other significant references are given for each species or subspecies of lice. A total of four families, 76 genera, and 245 species and subspecies of lice are listed, including 17 species recorded as genus only, and 31 new records of species. A host-louse listincluding a total of 155 bird species (146 native and nine introduced by human agency) belonging to 19 orders, 43 families and 107 generais also given.