Identification of Porrocaecum moraveci in red kites in England and Wales, a species of conservation concern
William S. Funk, Tammy Shadbolt, Mark T. Fox, Anthony W. Sainsbury, Damer P. Blake

TL;DR
This study identifies a new parasite species in red kites in England and Wales, highlighting potential disease risks for translocated birds.
Contribution
The first report of Porrocaecum moraveci in the UK and its potential implications for red kite translocation.
Findings
Porrocaecum moraveci was identified in red kites in England and Wales using molecular techniques.
The parasite was found in 22 out of 23 infected red kites, indicating its prevalence in the population.
Other parasites detected are already known in European populations and do not pose new risks.
Abstract
The population of free-living red kites (Milvus milvus [Linnaeus 1758]) in England and Wales has increased since 1989 as a consequence of species reintroduction. The red kite, however, remains of conservation concern, with populations in Europe considered to be in decline. Plans to translocate birds from England to Spain have been initiated, prompting consideration of the disease risks associated with the translocation of parasites which may be present within the source population. This study utilized published morphological markers and molecular polymerase chain reaction techniques to identify archived adult helminth parasites extracted from the gastrointestinal tract of red kites found dead and examined post-mortem in England and Wales between 2014 and 2021. Helminths of the genus Porrocaecum (Railliet and Harry 1912) were identified in 22 out of the 23 helminth-infected red kites…
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Taxonomy
TopicsMarine and coastal plant biology · Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies · Isotope Analysis in Ecology
