A General Overview of Bird Helminth Fauna Research of Türkiye (2000–2025)
Özet
This study comprehensively reviews studies conducted on helminth parasites observed in birds in Türkiye between 2000 and 2025. Türkiye’s rich avian fauna and its location on migratory routes are key factors contributing to helminth diversity. Numerous species belonging to the groups Digenea, Cestoda, Nematoda, and Acanthocephala have been identified; some of these are the first records for Türkiye. High prevalence rates have been reported, particularly in waterfowl and birds of prey, reaching up to 80% in some species. In addition to morphological identifications, the use of molecular (PCR, sequence analysis) and histopathological methods has become widespread, increasing the accuracy of species identification and providing a clearer understanding of the effects of parasites on host tissues. The impact of parasites on host behavior, population dynamics, and ecosystem functioning is highlighted, and the spread of parasites via migratory birds and zoonotic risks are highlighted. In conclusion, it is emphasized that, the avian helminth fauna in Türkiye still has a large potential to be discovered, therefore, molecular and histopathological based field studies should be expanded, and long-term monitoring programs should be established.
Referanslar
Aktop, Y., Yılmaz, H.E., & Çaghatay, I.T. (2021). Geographical distribution of freshwater fish parasite Clinostomum spp. Journal of Fisheries Faculty of Kastamonu University, 7(1), 58–63.
Bishkin, Z., Yıldırım, A., Inci, A., & Duzlu, O. (2011). Molecular biological techniques used for diagnostic purposes in parasitology. Erciyes University Journal of Veterinary Faculty.
Dırshe, M.W. (2024). Helminth fauna of Corvidae birds in Bursa and surroundings [Master's thesis, Bursa Uludağ University]. Bursa Uludağ University Thesis Archive.
Dinchturk, E., & Tanrıkul, T.T., (2024). Parasitological investigation of Artemia parthenogenetica, A cestode case from Ayvalık Saltwork. Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, 9(1), 94–99.
Gıcık, Y., & Burgu, A. (2000). Helminth fauna in the wild pigeons in Ankara and surroundings. Kafkas University Journal of Veterinary Faculty, 6(1), 1–7.
Guclu, F., Dik, B., Isik, N., & Derinbay Ekici, O. (2011). Helminths detected in Europe starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 27(2), 107–110.
Guven, T., & Dushen, S. (2023). A Research on the helminth fauna of some bird species in Denizli Province, Turkey. Proceedings of the 6th Symposium on EuroAsian Biodiversity (SEAB-2023), 6–8 September 2023, Baku, Azerbaijan
Hughul, F., & Guchlu, F. (2020). Detection of helminths in various birds living in Lake Çavuşçu. Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 36(4), 267–276. https://doi.org/10.15312/EurasianJVetSci.2020.308
Kanat, O. (2024). histopathological investigation of gastrointestinal system parasites in storks: Cathaemasia hians. Research and Veterinary Practice and Animal Science, 1(1), 9–18. https://doi.org/10.69990/repvas.2024.1.1.2
Karataş, A., et al. (2021). Importance of bird migration routes in Turkey. Journal of Forestry and Wildlife, 6(2), 45–58.
Kose, M., Sevimli, F.K., Kozan, E., & Chichek, H.S. (2009). Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in chickens in Afyonkarahisar district, Turkey. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net
Olsen, O.W. (1986). Animal Parasites: Their Life Cycles and Ecology. New York: Dover Publications.
Ozdal, N., & Ayaz, E. (2005). Helminths observed in a chicken necropsy in Van. Yüzüncü Yıl University Journal of Veterinary Faculty, 16(2), 7–10.
Ozkazanch, N.K., & Ozay, E. (2019). Threatening factors for migratory birds Bartin University International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 2(1), 77–89.
Ozturk, M., & Umur, S. (2024). Morphological and genetic Characterization of Contracaecum and Porrocaecum species from wild birds in Turkey. Parasitology Research, 123, 423–438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08431-7
Ozturk, M., & Umur, S. (2025). Molecular and morphological characterization of two Clinostomum species with the first case of Clinostomum tilapia from Turkey. Acta Parasitologica, 70, 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-024-00955-3
Ozturk, M., Nacar, C., & Umur, S. (2025). First molecular characterization and haplotype analysis of Ligula Pavlovskii from Podiceps cristatus in Turkey. Parasitology Research, 124, 99–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-025-08548-3
Parlak, Y., & Gürler, A.T. (2023). Helminths in digestive and respiratory domestic systems geese in Samsun region. Turkish Journal of Parasitology, 47(1), 49–52. https://doi.org/10.4274/tpd.galenos.2022.02411
Roberts, L.S., & Janovy, J. (2009). Foundations of Parasitology (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Saygı, G. (2021). Basic Medical Parasitology. İstanbul: İstanbul Medical Bookstore. ISBN: 9786059528375.
Smyth, J.D. (1994). Introduction to Animal Parasitology (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Tezel, M., Girishgin, A.O., Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H.S., & Shenlik, B. (2015). Helminths of the digestive tract in Buteo buteo in Bursa Province of Northwest Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 39(2), 323–327. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1403-24
Topchu Gencay, EB, & Bolukbash, CS (2024). Effects of parasites on host behavior. Journal of Veterinary Practitioners Association, 95(2), 164–173. https://doi.org/10.33188/vetheder.1353693
Unlu, H., & Eren, H. (2013). Helminth fauna in chickens kept in rural areas in Aydın. Animal Health Production and Hygiene, 2(2), 193–197.
WWF-Türkiye. (2019). Atlas of Breeding Birds in Turkey. Istanbul: World Wildlife Fund. ISBN: 978-605-9903-21-9. Retrieved from https://wwf.org.tr
Yılmaz, A.B., Yildiz, H., & Yildiz, S. (2020). Helminths observed in feces examination of Armenian gull (Larus armenicus). Turkish Journal of Nature and Science, 9(2), 1–6.
Yilmaz, O., Sevimli, F.K., & Kozan, E. (2009). Investigation of helminths in wild pigeons (Columba livia) in Bursa region. Turkish Journal of Parasitology, 33(4), 321–326.
Referanslar
Aktop, Y., Yılmaz, H.E., & Çaghatay, I.T. (2021). Geographical distribution of freshwater fish parasite Clinostomum spp. Journal of Fisheries Faculty of Kastamonu University, 7(1), 58–63.
Bishkin, Z., Yıldırım, A., Inci, A., & Duzlu, O. (2011). Molecular biological techniques used for diagnostic purposes in parasitology. Erciyes University Journal of Veterinary Faculty.
Dırshe, M.W. (2024). Helminth fauna of Corvidae birds in Bursa and surroundings [Master's thesis, Bursa Uludağ University]. Bursa Uludağ University Thesis Archive.
Dinchturk, E., & Tanrıkul, T.T., (2024). Parasitological investigation of Artemia parthenogenetica, A cestode case from Ayvalık Saltwork. Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, 9(1), 94–99.
Gıcık, Y., & Burgu, A. (2000). Helminth fauna in the wild pigeons in Ankara and surroundings. Kafkas University Journal of Veterinary Faculty, 6(1), 1–7.
Guclu, F., Dik, B., Isik, N., & Derinbay Ekici, O. (2011). Helminths detected in Europe starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 27(2), 107–110.
Guven, T., & Dushen, S. (2023). A Research on the helminth fauna of some bird species in Denizli Province, Turkey. Proceedings of the 6th Symposium on EuroAsian Biodiversity (SEAB-2023), 6–8 September 2023, Baku, Azerbaijan
Hughul, F., & Guchlu, F. (2020). Detection of helminths in various birds living in Lake Çavuşçu. Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 36(4), 267–276. https://doi.org/10.15312/EurasianJVetSci.2020.308
Kanat, O. (2024). histopathological investigation of gastrointestinal system parasites in storks: Cathaemasia hians. Research and Veterinary Practice and Animal Science, 1(1), 9–18. https://doi.org/10.69990/repvas.2024.1.1.2
Karataş, A., et al. (2021). Importance of bird migration routes in Turkey. Journal of Forestry and Wildlife, 6(2), 45–58.
Kose, M., Sevimli, F.K., Kozan, E., & Chichek, H.S. (2009). Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in chickens in Afyonkarahisar district, Turkey. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net
Olsen, O.W. (1986). Animal Parasites: Their Life Cycles and Ecology. New York: Dover Publications.
Ozdal, N., & Ayaz, E. (2005). Helminths observed in a chicken necropsy in Van. Yüzüncü Yıl University Journal of Veterinary Faculty, 16(2), 7–10.
Ozkazanch, N.K., & Ozay, E. (2019). Threatening factors for migratory birds Bartin University International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 2(1), 77–89.
Ozturk, M., & Umur, S. (2024). Morphological and genetic Characterization of Contracaecum and Porrocaecum species from wild birds in Turkey. Parasitology Research, 123, 423–438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08431-7
Ozturk, M., & Umur, S. (2025). Molecular and morphological characterization of two Clinostomum species with the first case of Clinostomum tilapia from Turkey. Acta Parasitologica, 70, 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-024-00955-3
Ozturk, M., Nacar, C., & Umur, S. (2025). First molecular characterization and haplotype analysis of Ligula Pavlovskii from Podiceps cristatus in Turkey. Parasitology Research, 124, 99–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-025-08548-3
Parlak, Y., & Gürler, A.T. (2023). Helminths in digestive and respiratory domestic systems geese in Samsun region. Turkish Journal of Parasitology, 47(1), 49–52. https://doi.org/10.4274/tpd.galenos.2022.02411
Roberts, L.S., & Janovy, J. (2009). Foundations of Parasitology (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Saygı, G. (2021). Basic Medical Parasitology. İstanbul: İstanbul Medical Bookstore. ISBN: 9786059528375.
Smyth, J.D. (1994). Introduction to Animal Parasitology (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Tezel, M., Girishgin, A.O., Birlik, S., Yıldırımhan, H.S., & Shenlik, B. (2015). Helminths of the digestive tract in Buteo buteo in Bursa Province of Northwest Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 39(2), 323–327. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1403-24
Topchu Gencay, EB, & Bolukbash, CS (2024). Effects of parasites on host behavior. Journal of Veterinary Practitioners Association, 95(2), 164–173. https://doi.org/10.33188/vetheder.1353693
Unlu, H., & Eren, H. (2013). Helminth fauna in chickens kept in rural areas in Aydın. Animal Health Production and Hygiene, 2(2), 193–197.
WWF-Türkiye. (2019). Atlas of Breeding Birds in Turkey. Istanbul: World Wildlife Fund. ISBN: 978-605-9903-21-9. Retrieved from https://wwf.org.tr
Yılmaz, A.B., Yildiz, H., & Yildiz, S. (2020). Helminths observed in feces examination of Armenian gull (Larus armenicus). Turkish Journal of Nature and Science, 9(2), 1–6.
Yilmaz, O., Sevimli, F.K., & Kozan, E. (2009). Investigation of helminths in wild pigeons (Columba livia) in Bursa region. Turkish Journal of Parasitology, 33(4), 321–326.
