Composition, structure and pattern of helminth assemblages associated with central European storks (Ciconiidae)

• The diversity of helminth assemblages was similar in both sexes of adult C. ciconia.
• Helminth diversity reached 11.0 ± 1.6 (C. ciconia) and 12.5 ± 5.4 (C. nigra) species.
• Juvenile storks were affected by higher parasite load than the adults.
• Potentially lethal helminth species were found as dominant among the stork hosts.
• 9% of helminth species (0.04% of individuals) were acquired out of the study area.

The composition, structure and pattern of helminth assemblages associated with the storks (Ciconiidae), ibises and spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) are poorly understood. Here we analyze the prevalence, intensity and diversity of the helminth component communities associated with the white stork Ciconia ciconia and black stork Ciconia nigra, and notice the findings of helminths on Eurasian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia and glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus obtained in the Czech Republic in years 1962–2013. Comparison with datasets from multiple European countries supports the existence of well-defined local helminth component communities, which are subject to strong geographic variation. The estimated diversity of the helminth component communities reached 11.0 ± 1.6 (C. ciconia) and 12.5 ± 5.4 (C. nigra) species, with the Berger–Parker dominance index reaching only 0.24 and 0.21, respectively. Typically, the dominant species (Chaunocephalus ferox, Tylodelphys excavata and Dictymetra discoidea in C. ciconia, and Cathaemasia hians and Dicheilonema ciconiae in C. nigra) were considered as local, with intermediate host species available onsite. Altogether 10 of the 11 species with known life cycle were capable to complete their life cycle locally, which is in strong contrast with the situation in Czech egrets and herons. In C. ciconia and C. nigra, the highest helminth load was in juveniles, whereas Echinostoma sudanense, absent in the juveniles, was associated with intermediate hosts absent in the study area. Relative prevalence and frequency of helminths associated with male and female C. ciconia was similar to each other. The first systematically collected evidence of the intra-annual changes of the helminth assemblages in storks is provided.

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