1. PARASITES OF FALCO ELEONORAE: PREVIOUS AND LATEST INFORMATION A. Diakou 1, J. Fric 2, M. Papazahariadou 1, T. Dimalexis 2 1 Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece 2 Hellenic Ornithological Society, Vas. Irakleiou 24 10682, Athens, Greece

2. Falco eleonorae (Eleonora’s falcon) migratory (Mediterranean - East Africa) migratory (Mediterranean - East Africa) Greece hosts more than 80% of the global population (>12.000 pairs) Greece hosts more than 80% of the global population (>12.000 pairs) nests in natural rock cavities located on small islets, larger island, interior land nests in natural rock cavities located on small islets, larger island, interior land diet: big insects / migratory birds diet: big insects / migratory birds parasitic diseases: low importance but for a “Rare” species can be of particular interest

3. Aims Review of previous information on parasitic fauna Parasitological examination of F. eleonorae in Greece (EU “Life Nature” project “Conservation of Falco eleonorae in Greece”)

4. Materials and Methods August – September 2006 Islets of Sporades and Cyclades Islands in Aegean Sea Faecal samples from 23 nests Ectoparasites of 2 nestlings

5.  merthiolate-iodine- formalin sedimentation  zinc sulphate flotation  Ziehl-Nielsen stained smear inspection The identification of the parasites was based on morphological criteria Materials and Methods

6. Results (faeces) 20 out of the 23 samples: positive (86.95%) 1 parasitic species: 8/23 2 parasitic species: 8/23 3 parasitic species: 4/23

7. Results (feaces) Protozoa (4/23) Isospora spp. (2/23) Caryospora spp. (1/23) (1/23)

8. Trematoda (10/23) Neodiplostomum spp. (1/23) Nematostrigea spp. (7/23) Results (feaces) 2/23 1/23

9. Nematoda (11/23) Serratospiculum spp. (7/23) Synhimantus spp. (1/23) Physaloptera alata (2/23) Results (faeces) (1/23)

10. Cestoda, cysticercoid (1/23) Acarina (9/23) Results (faeces)

11. Hyppoboscidae (1/2) Mallophaga (2/2) Results (ectoparasites)

12. Parasites of F. eleonorae: Parasites of F. eleonorae: only few studies Wink et al. (1979): Leucocytozoon toddi, microfilaria, Haemaphysalis numidiana (Ixodidae), Ornithophila gestroi (Hyppoboscidae), Laemobothrion tinnunculi, Degeeriella rufa (Mallophaga), mite (Acarina) Martínez-Abraín and Urios (2002): absence of blood parasites

13. The present study The present study Faecal examination: high prevalence and various species of parasites (potential threat) Ectoparasites: same taxon with the previously reported: Hyppoboscidae and Mallophaga are common in this bird species

14. F. eleonorae: the most important bird species hosted in Greece Species' long-term protection  study of its biology and of the factors that can threaten its conservation status Parasites can represent a serious problem  Detailed recording of F. eleonorae ‘s parasitic fauna  Measures for their limitation

15. Thank you