Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) on a wild Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and a zoo-kept Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Tyrol, Austria
Language English Country Germany Media electronic
Document type Journal Article
PubMed
40685410
PubMed Central
PMC12277224
DOI
10.1007/s00436-025-08531-y
PII: 10.1007/s00436-025-08531-y
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- Aquila chrysaetos, Colpocephalum turbinatum, Craspedorrhynchus aquilinus, Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus, Gyps fulvus, Chewing lice,
- MeSH
- Eagles * parasitology MeSH
- Falconiformes * parasitology MeSH
- Bird Diseases * parasitology MeSH
- Phthiraptera * classification anatomy & histology MeSH
- DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic MeSH
- Lice Infestations * veterinary parasitology MeSH
- Animals, Zoo parasitology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Austria MeSH
Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) are obligate and permanent ectoparasites commonly found on birds. The life cycle of these insects is completed on the body of the host and therefore many are host specific. This is the first report of chewing lice on a wild Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and a zoo-kept Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Tyrol, Austria. Three different species of chewing lice were identified: Craspedorrhynchus aquilinus was found on Aquila chrysaetos and Colpocephalum turbinatum and Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus were found on Gyps fulvus. The lice were identified morphologically and by barcoding. Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) of eagles, vultures, and other Accipitriformes are understudied, and further research is needed.
See more in PubMed
Naz S, Najer T, Gustafsson DR (2020) An annotated list of the species of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) described by Mohammad A.-R. Ansari. Zootaxa 4809 (3):401–448. PubMed
Ansari MAR (1955) Studies on the amblyceran Mallophaga infesting birds in Pakistan. Proceedings of the Seventh Pakistan Science Conference, Agriculture, Bahawalpur, Pakistan:51–57.
Bahiraei Z, Sazmand A, Khedri J, Babaei M, Moeinifard E, Dik B (2024) Chewing lice of wild birds in Iran: new data and a checklist of avian louse species reported in Iran. Front Vet Sci, Sec Parasitology, vol. 10. 10.3389/fvets.2023.1324619 PubMed PMC
Balát F (1977) Mallophaga. Acta faunistica entomologica Musei nationalis Pragae 15. Supplementum 4:45–52
Galloway TD (2018) Biodiversity of ectoparasites: lice (Phthiraptera) and fleas (Siphonaptera). Insect Biodiversity (eds Foottit, RG,Adler, PH):457–482. 10.1002/9781118945582.ch17
Bush SE, Waller MM, Herman JM, Hobbs KS, Clayton AR, Watson JL et al (2023) Birds groom more in regions with higher parasite pressure: a comparison of temperate and subtropical American kestrels. Anim Behav 201:125–135. 10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.04.015
Catanach TA, Valim MP, Weckstein JD, Johnson KP (2018) Cophylogenetic analysis of lice in the
Landmann A, Mayrhofer A (2001) Der Steinadler im Tiroler Karwendel. Endbericht Interreg-Projekt: Freizeit und Erholung im Karwendel – naturverträglich. Auftrag, Amt der Tiroler Landesregierung.
Dik B, Yamaç E, Uslu U (2013) Studies on chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) species from domestic and wild birds in Turkey. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg 19:553–560
Dik B, Naz S, Sajid MS (2022) Data on the chewing lice (Phthiraptera) parasitizing the accipitrid birds (Accipitriformes) in Turkey. J Anim Health Prod 10(4):443–453. 10.17582/journal.jahp/2022/10.4.443.453
Frixione MG, Bush SE, Clayton DH (2025) High Ectoparasite Loads of Tropical Birds: Chewing Lice on Puerto Rican American Kestrels (Falco sparverius caribaearum). J Wildl Dis 61(1):241–246. 10.7589/JWD-D-24-00100 PubMed
Gustafsson DR, DiBlasi E, Olsson U, Najer T, Sychra O, Bush SE (2018) Checklist and key to the lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) of Sweden. Entomol Tidsk 139:205–394
Gustafsson DR, Sychra O, Grossi AA (2024) An estimate of the diversity and threat levels of avian chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera, Amblycera), with a call for “pre-emptive red listing.” Biodivers Conserv. 10.1007/s10531-024-03006-5
Gustafsson DR, Tian C, Yu X, Xu L, Wu S, Zou F (2021) Unintentional parasite conservation success: chewing lice recovered from crested ibis,
Hackman W (1994) Mallofager (Phthiraptera: Mallophaga) som parasiterar pa Finlands fagelarter. [Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Mallophaga) parasitising birds in Finland]. Memoranda so Fauna Fl Fenn 70:35–70 (
Hebert PD, Penton EH, Burns JM, Janzen DH, Hallwachs W (2004) Ten species in one: DNA barcoding reveals cryptic species in the neotropical skipper butterfly Astraptes fulgerator. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101(41):14812–21417. 10.1073/pnas.0406166101 PubMed PMC
Heckmann RA (2014) Fine structure (SEM) of two species of Mallophaga. Ectoparasites of eagles with comments on recently published articles on lice. Proc Parasitol 58:23–38
Ilieva M (2009) Checklist of the chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from wild birds in Bulgaria. Zootaxa 2138:1–66
Séguy E (1944) Insectes ectoparasites (Mallophages). In: Lechevalier, P. Faune de France (Vol. 43), 23–407.
Kagan RA (2016) Electrocution of raptors on power lines: a review of necropsy methods and findings. Vet Pathol 53(5):1030–1036. 10.1177/0300985816646431 PubMed
Katzner TE, Kochert MN, Steenhof K, McIntyre CL, Craig EH, Miller TA (2020) Golden eagle (
Kolencik S, Sychra O, Papousek I, Literak I (2017) Where are the species limits? Morphology versus genetics in Neotropical chewing lice of the genus
Gallego J, Martín-Mateo MP, Aguirre JM (1987) Malófagos de rapaces españolas. 2. Las especies del
Manilla G (2000) Phthiraptera. Checklist delle specie della fauna Italiana. 39. Ministero dell’Ambiente e Comitato Scientifico per la Fauna d’Italia, Calderini, Bologna, p 11
Martín-Mateo MP (1989) Estado actual del conocimiento sobre los malófagos (Insecta) parásitos de aves y mamíferos en Espańa. Rev Ibér Parasitol 49(4):387–410
Mey E, Stubbe M, Lchagvasuren D, Stubbe A (2016) Der Mönchsgeier
Naz S, Sychra O, Rizvi SA, Dharejo AM (2024) The genus PubMed
Nimsuphan B, Pinyopanuwat N, Lorsanyaluk B, Pothieng D, Sanyathitiseree P, Wajjwalku W, Kasornodorkbua C (2011) Chewing lice on migratory Himalayan Griffon Vultures (
Ošlejšková L, Krištofík J, Trnka A, Sychra O (2021) An annotated checklist of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) from Slovakia. Zootaxa 5069:1–80 PubMed
género Craspedorrhynchus Keler (1938) parásitas de Falconiformes, con descripción de tres especies nuevas [Species of the genus
Peña-Espinoza M, Em D, Shahi-Barogh B, Berer D, Duscher GG, van der Vloedt L, Glawischnig W, Rehbein S, Harl J, Unterköfler MS, Fuehrer HP (2023) Molecular pathogen screening of louse flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) from domestic and wild ruminants in Austria. Parasit Vectors 16(1):179. 10.1186/s13071-023-05810-4 PubMed PMC
Pérez JM (2023) How many threatened lice are there? An approximation to the red list of the Spanish Phthiraptera. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 23:100903. 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.100903 PubMed PMC
Pérez JM, Ruiz-Martínez I, Cooper JE (1996) Occurrence of chewing lice on Spanish raptors. Ardeola 43:129–138
Clayton DH, Adams RJ, Bush SE (2008) Phthiraptera, the chewing lice. Parasitic diseases of wild birds. Thomas, NJ, Hunter, DB, Atkinson, CT. 2121 State Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50014–8300, USA, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1:515–526.
Price RD, Beer JR (1963) Species of
Roslin T, Somervuo P, Pentinsaari M et al (2022) A molecular-based identification resource for the arthropods of Finland. Mol Ecol Resour 22(2):803–822. 10.1111/1755-0998.13510. ( PubMed
Salvador A (2024) Eurasian Griffon (
Song F, Li H, Liu GH, Wang W, James P, Colwell DD, Tran A, Gong S, Cai W, Shao R (2019) Mitochondrial genome fragmentation unites the parasitic lice of Eutherian Mammals. Syst Biol 68(3):430–440. 10.1093/sysbio/syy062 PubMed PMC
Talabante C, Bernal I (2022) Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) found on Griffon Vultures (
Tandan BK (1964) Mallophaga from birds of the Indian subregion. Part VI. Falcolipeurus Bedford. Proc R Entomol Soc Lond. (B) 33:173–180.
Ledger JA (1980) The arthropod parasites of vertebrates in Africa South of the Sahara, Vol. IV, Phthiraptera (Insecta). Publication of the South African Institute for Medical Research No. 56. South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Price RD, Hellenthal RA, Palma RL, Johnson KP, Clayton DH (2003) The chewing lice: World checklist and biological overview. Illinois Natural History Survey Special Publication 24.
Tomás A, Palma RL, Rebelo MT, Pereira da Fonseca I (2016) Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from wild birds in southern Portugal. Parasitol Int 65(3):295–301. 10.1016/j.parint.2016.02.007 PubMed
Vas Z, Rékási J, Rózsa L (2012) A checklist of lice of Hungary (Insecta: Phthiraptera). Ann Hist – Nat Mus Natl Hung 104:5–109.
Mey E (2004) Verzeichnis der Tierläuse (Phthiraptera) Deutschlands. Pp. 72–129. In: Klausnitzer B. (ed.): Entomofauna Germanica 6. Entomol Nach Berichte, Beiheft 8:1–344.
Złotorzycka J, (1976) Wszoly—Mallophaga, zeszyt 2, Nadrodzina Menoponoidea. [Chewing lice—Mallophaga 2, Superfamily Menoponoidea]. Klucze do Oznaczania Owadów Polski 15. Panstwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Warszawa & Wroclaw, 190 pp. (in Polish).
Złotorzycka J, (1980) Wszoly – Mallophaga, zeszyt 6, Nadrodzina Philopteroidea, rodziny: Meinertzhageniellidae, Lipeuridae, Degeeriellidae, Pseudonirmidae, Giebeliidae, Esthiopteridae i Acidoproctidae. [Chewing lice – Mallophaga 6, Superfamily Philopteroidea, families: Meinertzhageniellidae, Lipeuridae, Degeeriellidae, Pseudonirmidae, Giebeliidae, Esthiopteridae and Acidoproctidae]. Klucze do Oznaczania Owadów Polski 15. Panstwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Warszawa & Wroclaw, 202 pp. (in Polish).
Kutzer E, Frey H, Kotremba J. Zur Parasitenfauma österreichischer Greifvögel (Falconiformes) [Parasites of Austrian birds of prey (Falconiformes)]. Angew Parasitol. 1980 Nov;21(4):183–205. German. PMID: 7212374. PubMed
Adam C (2008) Studiul morfologic, sistematic, faunistic si al specificitatii parazitare la unele specii de malofage (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) parazite pe pasari din Romania. [Morphological, systematic, faunistic and parasitological study of some species of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) parasitising birds in Romania]. Ph.D. thesis. Universitatea din Bucuresti, Romania, 438 pp (in Romanian).
Adly E, Gustafsson DR, Nasser M, Baeshen R, Kamal M (2022) Host–parasite associations and new records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) from raptors (Accipitriformes, Falconiformes, Strigiformes) encountered in Egypt.
Eren G, Özkoç ÖÜ, Açici M (2022) Contributions to the knowledge of the diversity of the chewing lice fauna in Turkey. Turkish J Zool: 46: No. 6, Article 1. 10.55730/1300-0179.3099
Lakshminarayana KV, Vijayalakshmi S, Talukdar B (1979) The chewing-lice (Phthiraptera: Insecta) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands with remarks on some host relationships. Rec Zool SurvIndia, 77(1–4):31–37. 10.26515/rzsi/v77/i1-4/1979/161838
Martín-Mateo MP (2002) Mallophaga, Amblycera. – In: Ramos MA, Alba J, Bellés i Ros X, Gosálbez I Noguera J, Guerra A, Macpherson E, Martín F, Serrano J, Templado J, (eds.) Fauna Iberica, Vol.20. – Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid.