The Veterinary Record, Vol 154, Issue 1, 17-20
Copyright © 2004 by British Veterinary Association

Helminths isolated from the digestive tract of diurnal raptors in Catalonia, Spain

¹ Unitat de Parasitologia i Malalties Parasitàries, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
² Centre de Fauna de Torreferrussa, Finca Torreferrussa, carretera B-140 Km 4.5, 08130 Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Barcelona, Spain
³ Helm West Laboratory, 2108 Hilda Avenue, Missoula, MT 59801, USA

The prevalence of parasitic helminths in the digestive tract of 119 diurnal raptors (Falconiformes), which had died in a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Catalonia, was studied. The birds belonged to 13 species, with 100 of them (84 per cent) being kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), buzzards (Buteo buteo), sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) and goshawks (Accipiter gentilis). Ninety-five of the birds (79·8 per cent) were infected with helminths. Nematodes were the most frequently found helminth (75·6 per cent), followed by trematodes, cestodes and ancanthocephalans. All the buzzards and sparrowhawks and 92 per cent of the goshawks were infected, but only 59 per cent of the kestrels were infected.