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

An adult female great curassow (<i>Crax rubra)</i> and an adult female crested guan (<i>Penelope purpurascens)</i> 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 <i>C. rubra</i> and three from <i>P. purpurascens</i>) 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 <i>Circumvitellatrema momota.</i> Phylogenetic analysis showed that <i>C. momota</i> 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 <i>C. momota</i> infecting members of the Cracidae family. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring parasitic infections in captive and free-ranging cracids under conservation programmes.