Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41293778›Full record

ArticleParasitology2026

Diversity of obligate ectoparasites and parasitism patterns in wild birds of the Balearic Islands: new chewing lice records for Spain.

Rafael Gutiérrez López, Mikel Alexander González, Julia López-Mercadal, Raul Escandell, Oscar García-Febrero, Rafel Triay, E Coll, Miriam García, Ivan Bernal, Carlos Talabante and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasitology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. First record ofInternational journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Rafael Gutiérrez LópezCentro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII),Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0107-5357
Mikel Alexander GonzálezDepartamento de Soluciones ambientales y Entomología, Athisa Medio Ambiente - Grupo SASTI, Granada, Spain.
Julia López-MercadalApplied zoology and animal conservation group, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
Raul EscandellSociedad Ornitológica de Menorca (SOM). Es Castell, Balearic Islands, Spain.
Oscar García-FebreroSociedad Ornitológica de Menorca (SOM). Es Castell, Balearic Islands, Spain.
Rafel TriaySociedad Ornitológica de Menorca (SOM). Es Castell, Balearic Islands, Spain.
E CollCOFIB (Conselleria d'Agricultura, Pesca i Medi Natural, Govern de les Illes Balears). Ciutadella, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
Miriam GarcíaCOFIB (Conselleria d'Agricultura, Pesca i Medi Natural, Govern de les Illes Balears). Ciutadella, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
Ivan BernalGrupo de anillamiento Álula, Madrid, Spain.
Carlos TalabanteDepartamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain.
María L MorazaInstitute of Biodiversity and Environment BIOMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Miguel Angel MirandaLaboratory of Zoology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Carlos BarcelóApplied zoology and animal conservation group, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8345-3229

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ectoparasites are commonly found on wild birds and might play an important role as vectors of pathogens. The Balearic Islands archipelago (Spain) is an ecological hotspot for wild birds due to its geographical location and habitat diversity. Although the avian fauna of the archipelago is well studied, little information is available regarding the ectoparasites infesting its wild bird populations. This study aimed to identify the diversity of ectoparasites (chewing lice, louse flies and ticks) and feather mites on wild birds in several locations on Menorca Island, as well as to assess the prevalence based on the migration status and season. Our research revealed that ten of the 13 species of chewing lice collected in this study are reported here for the first time in the Balearic Islands, including two that are also new records for Spain. We did not find statistically significant differences in the prevalence of ectoparasites or feather mites between sedentary and migratory birds. Likewise, no significant differences were observed in feather mite prevalence among migratory birds from Illa de s'Aire between prenuptial and postnuptial migrations. This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and diversity of ectoparasites, shedding light on their potential role as vectors for avian pathogens. Further research is needed to explore the pathogens these ectoparasites may carry and transmit, contributing to a better understanding of the epidemiology of avian diseases in Menorca.

Indexed as

Bird DiseasesEctoparasitic InfestationsLice InfestationsMite InfestationsAnimal MigrationAnimalsAnimals, WildBiodiversityBirdsDipteraFeathersIslandsMitesPhthirapteraPrevalenceSeasonsbird migrationfeather mitesliceparasitesticks

Identifiers

PMID41293778
PMCPMC13215741

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.