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Parasites of Kalij Pheasants (Lophura Leucomelana) on the Island of Hawaii!

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Parasites of Kalij Pheasants (Lophura Leucomelana) on the Island of Hawaii! Pacific Science (1983), vol. 37, no. 1 © 1983 by the University of Hawaii Press. All rights reserved Parasites of Kalij Pheasants (Lophura leucomelana) on the Island of Hawaii! VICTOR LEWIN and JEROME L. MAHRT2 ABSTRACT: Kalij pheasants (Lophura leucomelana) were collected from the island of Ha waii from 21 March to 25 June 1981, and were examined for parasites . These introduced forest dwelling pheasants are sympatric with both endangered endemic birds and mosquitoes, which are known vectors of avian malaria. No blood parasites were found in any of the 44 Kalij pheasants ex­ amined. An eyeworm, Oxyspirura sp., was found in two birds. One pheasant was infested with a body louse Amyrsidea monostoecha, and a feather louse Lagopoecus colchicus was found on two birds. The latter represents a new host record . KALIJ PHEASANTS (Lophura leucomelana) are Scott 1979, Sakai and Ralph 1980), a survey native to the western foothills of the Hima­ was conducted to determine if Kalij pheasants layas in northern India and Nepal (BohI1971). act as reservoir hosts for pathogens. These gallopheasants were introduced into Hawaii in 1962at the Puu Waawaa Ranch on the island ofHawaii (Lewin 1971)from game METHODS farms in Michigan and Texas. They became established and ultimately spread widely Kalij pheasants were shot between 21 throughforested regions of the island; they March and 25 June 1981. Forty-four pheas­ now occur extensively in the tree fern-ohia­ ants from widely separated areas were col­ koa forests and in exotic forest plantations be­ lected. Most were from the Kona coast: 36 tween 500 and 1600 meters elevation (Lewin from the Makaula Ooma Forest Reserve; and Lewin 1983). Kalij pheasants became so 5 from the Honaunau Forest Reserve; and abundant that in 1977 they were declared a I from Manuka Forest Reserve. Two were legal game species. from the Hamakua coast: I each from the The potential impact on native birds Humuula and Laupahoehoe Forest Reserves. through the introduction of disease (espe­ Fifty percent (22) were collected between cially malaria) carried by exotic species has 0600 and 0900h, 27 percent (12) between 1600 been recognized (Warner 1968, Berger 1972, and 1900h, and the remainder (10) during van Riper et al. 1982). As almost nothing is midday. known about the parasites ofKalij pheasants, Immediately following collection, blood was which now live in close proximity to several obtained using a heparinized microhemato­ endangered endemic forest birds, namely, crit tube. Thin blood smears were made, were 'Akiapol'au (Hemignathus wilsoni), Hawaii fixed in absolute methanol the same day, and creeper (Loxops maculata), O'u' (Psittirostra later were stained with Giemsa. Each smear psittacea), Hawaiian thrush (Phaeornis obscu­ was examined at 400 x for 10 min to detect rus), and Hawaiian crow (Corvus tropicus) blood parasites. (Pratt, Berrett, and Bruner 1977, Sakai and Ectoparasites were found by searching Ralph 1978, van Riper 1978, van Riper and under feather and skin areas of the eye, ear, chin, nape areas and the bases ofprimary and secondary feathers , and the vent region. Ecto­ 1 This study was funded by a University of Alberta parasites were removed by forceps and pre­ sabbatical research grant to the senior author. Manu­ script accepted 12January 1983. served in AFA (ethanol-formalin-acetic acid). 2 University of Alberta, Department of Zoology, Forty-one birds were examined for internal Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9. .parasites. The eye surface under the lids and 81 82 PACIFIC SCIENCE, Volume 37, January 1983 the nasopharynx were searched with a blunt two in the other. These worms were identified probe. The complete gastrointestinal tract, as Oxyspirura (Yorkeispirura) sp. This genus trachea , lungs, kidneys, liver, and heart were has previously been reported on Hawaii from examined using standard techniques (Lewin California quail (Lophortyx californica) and and Holmes 1971). from bare-throated francolin (Pt ernistis leu­ coscepus) (Lewin and Holmes 1971). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Ectoparasit es Blood Parasites Infestations of lice were found on three Recent investigations (Goff and van Riper adult females. Lice were located at feather III 1980, van Riper et al. 1982) have revealed bases primarily in the head and neck regions. that the mosquito species (Culex quinque­ These parasites were found only on birds col­ fasciatus), which serves as a vector for avian lected in June, and all had light infestations malaria (Plasmodium relictum), occurs above (12 or fewer per bird). the previously defined 600 meter line (Warner The licewere identified as Amyrsidea mono­ 1968)to an elevation of 1500 meters, and we stoecha (Kellogg, 1896) and Lagopo ecus col­ collected both C. quinquefasciatus and Aedes chicus Emerson, 1949. Emerson (unpublished albopictus where Kalij pheasants were ob­ records) has found A . monostoecha on wild served. Thus, vectors are present well within Kalij pheasants in Thailand. The Thailand the altitudinal range of both Kalij pheasants record suggests that this body louse was not and the endemic avifauna. Examination of acquired in Hawaii or at the original game­ blood smears for intracellular and extracel­ farm origin in Michigan or Texas. L. colchicus lular blood parasites (Trypanosoma, Haemo­ was found on two birds. This feather louse proteus, Plasmodium, Lankesterella, and is known to infest ring-necked pheasants microfilaria) Were negative. Although our (Phasianus colchicus) from Illinois, Montana, sample size was not large and was primarily and Utah (Emerson , unpublished records). composed of adults (42 adults , 2 chicks), it Since ring-necked pheasants are allopatric to appears that the Kalij pheasant may not serve Kalij in Hawaii, they may have acquired this as a reservoir for blood parasites. These nega­ louse locally. Our finding of L. colchicus con­ tive results should be interpreted cautiously, stitutes a new host and apparently a new local­ however, because van Riper and co-workers ity record. (1982) found a low prevalence (less than 4 percent) of malarial infection in introduced birds. ACK NOWLEDGMENTS Because this forest pheasant which shares its habitat with endemic birds has become so We thank R. Walker and R. Backman of successful and because it is a newly hunted the State of Hawaii Department of Land and species, plans for its transplantation should be Natural Resources for logistical support, preceded by more extensive examinations for permits, and distributional information. malarial parasites. Collections ofKalij pheas­ C. Carlson kindly allowed access to his ranch ants should be made throughout their distri­ where many Kalij pheasants were collected. bution, at various times of the year, and M. Pybus of the University of Alberta, should include more young birds. Department of Zoology identified the ne­ matodes . K. C. Emerson (Sanibel, Florida) identified the lice and provided previously un­ Helminths published records . C. van Riper III identified Examination for helminth parasites re­ the mosquitoes, which were confirmed by vealed only two adult female pheasants with M. L. Goff, B. P. Bishop Museum. G. Lewin nematodes under the eyelids. The infections aided immeasurably both in the field and were light, a single eye worm in one bird and laboratory aspects of this study. Parasites of Kalij Pheasants-s-Lswrx AND MAHRT 83 LITERATURE CITED tions ofendangered forest birds on the island ofHawaii. Amer. Birds 31(3):268-272. BERGER, A. J. 1972. Hawaiian birdlife. Uni­ SAKAI, H. F. , and C. J. RALPH. 1978. A recent versity Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. 270 pp. sighting of the 'Akiapol'au in south Kona, BOHL, W. H. 1971. The Ka1ij pheasants. U .S. Hawaii. 'Elepaio 39: 49-50. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife SAKAI, H. F. , and C. J. RALPH. 1980. Obser­ Service Report No . FGL-18. Washington, vations on the Hawaiian crow in south D.C. pp. 1-4. Kona, Hawaii. 'Elepaio 40(10) : 133-138. GOFF, M. L., and C. VA NRIPER III. 1980. Dis­ VAN RIPER, C. III. 1978. An 'O' u observation tribution ofmosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. on the east flank of Mauna Loa volcano, 'Elepaio 39(3): 32-33. Hawaii. Pac. Insects 22 : 178-188. VAN RIPER, C. III, and J. M . S COTT. 1979. LEWIN, V. 1971. Exotic game birds ofthe Puu Observations on distribution, diet, and Waawaa Ranch, Hawaii. J. Wildlife Mgt. breeding of the Hawaiian thrush. The 35:141-155. Condor 81: 65-71. LEWI N, V., and J. C. HOLM ES. 1971. Helminths VAN RIPER, C. III, S. G. VA N RIPER, M. L. from the exotic game birds of the Puu GOFF, and M . LAIRD. 1982. The impact of Waawaa Ranch, Hawaii. Pac. Sci. 25: 372­ malaria on birds in Hawaii Volcanoes Na­ 381. tional Park. Techn. Rept. 47, Cooperative LEWIN, V., and G. L EWIN. 1983. The Kalij National Park Resources Studies Unit, pheasant (Lophura leucomelana), a newly University of Hawaii, Honolulu. established game bird on the island of WARNER, R. E. 1968. The role of introduced Hawaii (submitted). diseases in the extinction of the endemic PRATT, H. D., D. C. BERRETT, and P. L. Hawaiian avifauna. The Condor 70 : 101­ BRUN ER. 1977. Some extraordinary observa- 120..
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