The helminths of hooded crow (Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758) collected during 1947–2024 on the territory of Ukraine

Study Extent

The birds were collected in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, Zhytomyr, Chernivtsi, Kherson, Poltava, Rivne, Volyn, and Zaporizhia regions, as well as in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. From the total sample 84 (74,3%) crows were infected with at least 1 helminth specimen. A total of 1118 specimens of parasites belonging to at least 35 species and 4 systematic groups were collected: trematodes – 15 species, cestodes – 6 species, nematodes – 12 species, and acanthocephals – 2 species. Some material was represented by larval stages or only by females (nematodes), which was in sufficient for morphological identification. Therefore, seven specimens of parasites could not be identified to the species level, but only up to class or family.

Sampling

From 2022 to 2024, we collected birds, including 25 crows, that died of various causes. Among the obvious causes of death, we recorded pneumatic gunshot wounds, road kills, injuries of youngsters learning to fly, etc. Data on 88 birds of this species, which were studied for parasites, was already presented in the institute's collection. Thus, for a total of 77 years of the parasitology department has collected records of the autopsies of 113 Hooded crows. Unfortunately, the material from four birds collected in the 1970s was lost. Some helminths from the collection were already identified, but most parasites had to be identified or re-identified based on their morphology.

Quality Control

The authors of the dataset are fully responsible for the quality of data provided within the dataset, being both experienced parasitologists with 5+ years of working experience.

Method steps

1. Collecting of material (dead bodies of hooded crows).
2. Georeferencing.
3. Dissecting of the bodies and excluding of the helminths with subsequent preservation of them in relevan chemical substances.
4. Species identification to the level of species (where possible) or to higher taxonomic categories.
5. Organising of the dataset according to the Darwin Core standards.

The dataset consists of records of helminths found in hooded crows., , The dataset consists of records of helminths found in hooded crows.,

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Platyhelminthes
   rank: phylum
3. Nematoda
   rank: phylum
4. Acanthocephala
   rank: phylum
5. Cestoda
   rank: class
6. Chromadorea
   rank: class
7. Mermithida
   rank: class
8. Palaeacanthocephala
   rank: class
9. Trematoda
   rank: class
10. Trichinellida
    rank: class
11. Cyclophyllidea
    rank: order
12. Diplostomida
    rank: order
13. Plagiorchiida
    rank: order
14. Capillariidae
    rank: order
15. Rhabditida
    rank: order
16. Trichinellida
    rank: order
17. Polymorphida
    rank: order

The dataset covers the records (modern and historical) from Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Odesa, Poltava, Khmel'nytskyi, Rivne, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr administrative regions of Ukraine and Autonomous Republic of Crimea.