First report of the air sac trematode Circumvitellatrema momota (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae) in cracid birds from Central America: pathological findings and phylogenetic confirmation

Abstract An adult female great curassow ( Crax rubra) and an adult female crested guan ( Penelope purpurascens) were examined post-mortem and found to harbour trematode flukes in their pulmonary air sacs and coelom, with severe pathological changes. Seven trematode specimens (four from C. rubra and three from P. purpurascens ) were stained with hydrochloric acid–carmine for optical microscopy, while four specimens (two from each bird species) were submitted to molecular analysis. Morphological and molecular analyses identified the specimens as Circumvitellatrema momota. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. momota from different geographical origins constitutes a single species within the subfamily Cyclocoelinae and is clearly distinct from other cyclocoelid genera. This is the first documented case of C. momota infecting members of the Cracidae family. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring parasitic infections in captive and free-ranging cracids under conservation programmes.