Intestinal Helminths of Fall-Migrating Ruddy Turnstones, Arenaria interpres (L.), from New Brunswick, Canada, with a Checklist of Helminths Reported from this Host

Nine species of helminths (5 trematodes and 4 cestodes) were recovered from 10 (3 adults, 7 juveniles) ruddy turnstones, Arenaria interpres, collected from a marine habitat on Miscou Island in New Brunswick, Canada, during fall migration in August of 2003. The number of helminths per bird ranged from 24 to 36,217 individuals; the number of helminth species per bird ranged from 3 to 6. The parasite taxa were typically distributed, with 2 or 3 species predominant and the remaining species making up a relatively small proportion of the total. The cestode Anomotaenia clavigera was the most prevalent helminth; the trematodes Microphallus papillorobustus and Maritrema subdolum were the most abundant helminths, together accounting for 94.6% of all helminths recovered. This study is the first to examine the helminth parasites of turnstones during fall migration. A checklist of helminth parasites previously reported from the ruddy turnstone is included.