Blood parasites of birds in Cameroon

Birds from south-central Cameroon, western Africa, were surveyed for blood parasites from August to October 1986. Of 331 birds examined, representing 65 species of 15 families and 6 orders (mostly passerines), 55 (17%) were found to be infected with 1 or more genera of hemotropic parasites. These included: Haemoproteus spp. (11% prevalence), Leucocytozoon spp. (3%), Plasmodium spp. (2%), Trypanosoma spp. (1%), and microfilariae of filariid nematodes (1%). Several new host-parasite associations were identified.     

Nematode parasites from Burchell's zebras in South Africa

Twenty-five Burchell's zebras (Equus burchelli antiquorum) which were culled at monthly intervals in the Kruger National Park were examined for helminths. Twenty-nine species of nematodes belonging to the families Atractidae, Habronematidae, Onchocercidae, Oxyuridae, Strongylidae, Strongyloididae and Trichostrongylidae were recovered. The cyathostomes (small strongyles) most abundant were Cyathostomum tetracanthum, Cylicostephanus calicatus, Cylindropharynx sp. (? C. intermedia Theiler, 1923) and Cylicocyclus auriculatus. Cyathostomum alveatum, Cyathostomum montgomeryi, Cylicostephanus calicatus and Cylindropharynx sp. (? C. intermedia Theiler, 1923) were the most prevalent cyathostomes (small strongyles) while Craterostomum acuticaudatum was the most prevalent of the large strongyles. Of all the species recovered those most abundant were Crossocephalus viviparus and Probstmayria vivipara with intensities of 100 to 3,857,772 and 18,400 to 104,120,467, respectively. Four new species, two Triodontophorus spp. (Strongylidae) and two Habronema spp. (Habronematidae) were identified. Furthermore, this study furnishes a first report of Triodontophorus minor in zebras. The fourth stage cyathostomes as well as the adults of 11 of the 14 species were present in significantly greater intensities in autumn and winter.     

Blood parasites of birds in the White Sea-Baltic migratory course. 2. Haemoproteus (Sporozoa, Haemosporidia) fauna and distribution

An analysis of the fauna and distribution of haemosporidiae of the genus Haemoproteus in birds of the White Sea-Baltic migrational direction is given. The author examined 2605 birds belonging to 86 species. Of them 906 birds (34.8%) belonging to 54 species were infected with haemoproteids. The fauna of these parasites is represented by 16 species. The problem of species and difficulties of specific differentiation of haemosporidiae of birds are discussed.     

Blood parasites in birds from Burkina Faso

This study aims at evaluating the prevalence and density of haemoparasites in a native population of immature and adult male and female birds of Burkina Faso. Protists from the orders Eucoccidiorida, Kinetoplastida, as well as microfilaria were found. During the period from the 27th to the 29th of November 2003, we trapped 110 birds: on 101 sampled birds, 47 harboured blood parasites, with an overall prevalence of infection of 46.5%; 15 birds (14.8%) harboured mixed infections. Haemoproteus (prevalence of infection 30.7%), Plasmodium (13.9%), Trypanosoma (10.9%), microfilaria (8.9%) and Leucocytozoon (5.9%) were most frequently recorded. Occurrence of blood parasites was very high in comparison to that seen in birds from other areas of Africa.     

Prevalence of blood parasites in European passeriform birds

Variation in the prevalence of blood parasites among species of birds has been used to test hypotheses about the effects of sexual selection and parental investment on disease resistance, and how vector abundance influences infection. However, the factors causing this variation are still poorly understood. We assessed the statistical effects of biogeographic, plumage-related and life-history traits on the prevalence of the blood parasites Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Trypanosoma in European passerine birds. Most of the variation in parasite prevalence occurred at low taxonomic levels. Brighter male plumage and greater host body mass were associated with higher prevalence, explaining 32% of the total variation. Male plumage brightness remained a significant factor when we controlled for phylogenetic effects. These relationships were driven primarily by simuliid-transmitted parasites (Leucocytozoon, Trypanosoma), which were more frequent in species with northern distributions. Host species with greater maximum longevity and shorter nestling periods had higher prevalences of Plasmodium; however, the effect was not stable after controlling for phylogeny using pairwise contrasts. Coevolution between hosts and parasites appears to create temporal and spatial variation that disconnects haematozoan prevalence from evolutionarily conservative life-history traits while creating some positive associations with traits that are phylogenetically labile. Clearly, ecologists should be cautious in relating patterns of variation in haematozoan prevalence to particular host traits.     

Nematode parasites reduce carotenoid-based signalling in male red grouse

Carotenoids determine the yellow-red colours of many ornaments, which often function as signals of quality. Carotenoid-based signalling may reliably advertise health and should be particularly sensitive to parasite infections. Nematodes are among the commonest parasites of vertebrates, with well-documented negative effects on their hosts. However, to date, little is known about the effects that these parasites may have on carotenoid-based signalling. Tetraonid birds (grouse) exhibit supra-orbital combs, which are bright integumentary ornaments pigmented by carotenoids. We tested the effect of the nematode parasite Trichostrongylus tenuis on signalling in free-living male red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. We show that experimentally reduced nematode infection increases plasma carotenoid concentration and comb redness, demonstrating for the first time that nematodes can influence carotenoid-based signals.     

Further observations on the blood parasites of birds in Uganda

Birds from three National Parks (Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale, and Queen Elizabeth) in western Uganda were surveyed during the dry season in July 2003 and investigated for hematozoa by microscopic examination of stained blood films. Of 307 birds examined, representing 68 species of 15 families and four orders, 61.9% were found to be infected with blood parasites. Species of Haemoproteus (15.3% prevalence), Plasmodium (20.5%), Leucocytozoon (40.1%), Trypanosoma (11.4%), Hepatozoon (2.6%), Atoxoplasma (0.3%), and microfilariae (3.9%) were recorded. Except for Haemoproteus spp. infections, the overall prevalence of hematozoa belonging to all genera was significantly higher in this study than was previously reported in Uganda. Thirty-six species of birds were examined for blood parasites for the first time and 112 new host-parasite associations were identified. Eighty-one were at the generic and 31 at the specific level of the hematozoa. Hepatozoon and Atoxoplasma spp. were detected for the first time in Uganda.     

Consumption of benthic fauna by carnivorous birds in the Wadden Sea

Consumption by carnivorous birds was estimated for the Sylt-Rømø tidal inlet in the northern part of the Wadden Sea, as well as the subarea Königshafen, a small, tidal bay. The bird community of the Sylt-Rømø Wadden Sea was dominated by Dunlin (35% of all birds counted), Eider (9%), Oystercatcher (8%), Knot (8%), and Shelduck (7%). The community in the Königshafen was dominated by Eider (20%), Knot (17%), Bar-tailed Godwit (17%), Dunlin (13%), and Oystercatcher (8%). Annual consumption was estimated at 3.4 g AFDW · m^?2 · year^?1 for the entire Sylt-Rømø Wadden Sea and 19.2 g AFDW · m^?2 · year^?1 for the Königshafen. Restricting the calculations to the intertidal area resulted in a consumption of 8.7 g AFDW · m^?2 · year^?1 for the Sylt-Rømø Wadden Sea and 17.6 g AFDW · m^?2 · year^?1 for the Königshafen. In the two areas, consumption was dominated by the Eider with 37% and 60% of the total consumption, respectively. In comparison to the western parts of the Wadden Sea the seasonal pattern of consumption as well as species composition differed, most probably as an effect of different climatic conditions, whereas annual consumption on intertidal flats seems to be in the same order of magnitude. On average, 15–25% of the mean annual macrozoobenthic biomass seems to be taken by carnivorous birds in the Wadden Sea, which is in the same order of magnitude as in other northern temperate estuarine areas.     

Blood parasites of some birds from Ghana

A total of 135 birds of 26 species in 13 families was examined for blood parasites; 43 birds (31.9%) of 13 species were infected; species of the Ploceidae were the most heavily infected. Species of Haemoproteus occurred most commonly 29 birds) while Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium species were virtually absent. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of hematozoa in birds from the mature rainforest and those in a savannah-urban setting.     

Blood parasites of some birds from Colombia

Blood films from 421 birds of 142 species, representing 29 avian families, from the environs of Cali, Colombia, were examined for blood parsites. Only 30 (7.1%) birds of 26 species harbored hematozoa. Species of Haemoproteus (3.1%) and microfilaria (2.3%) were the most commonly encountered blood parasites; species of Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium, Akiba and Lankesterella were found in a few birds. Mixed infections with more than one genus of blood parasite were rare; most infections encountered were of low intensity.     

Blood parasites of some birds from Senegal

A total of 809 birds from Senegal, including 43 species and 21 families, were examined for hematozoans; 93 birds (11.5%) harbored blood parasites, with only 7 (7.5%) harboring mixed infections. Species of Haemoproteus occurred in 81.7% of the infected birds while species of Plasmodium. Trypanosoma, microfilaria and Leucocytozoon were encountered less frequently. The majority of the sample was composed of species of ploceids and estrildidis and blood parasites were most prevalent in the colonial-nesting ploceids. Prevalence of blood parasites in Senegal was low in comparison to that seen in birds from other parts of Africa.     

Checklist of helminth parasites of birds in New Zealand

Abstract

A cross-referenced list is provided of 94 helminth taxa, at the generic or specific level, from 61 bird host species in the New Zealand subregion.     

Molecular characterization of malarial parasites in captive passerine birds

Seven of 28 passerine birds that died in captivity were positive for malarial parasites by polymerase chain reaction targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytB) and apicoplast ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Each bird was infected with a single parasite lineage having a unique genotype. Apicoplast rRNA sequences were present both in Haemoproteus spp. and Plasmodium spp. and had typically high adenosine + thymidine content. Phylogenies for cytB and apicoplast rRNA sequences were largely congruent and supported previous studies that suggest that Plasmodium-Haemoproteus spp. underwent synchronous speciation with their avian hosts, interrupted by sporadic episodes of host switching. Apicoplast phylogeny further indicated that Haemoproteus spp. are ancestral to Plasmodium spp. All the 7 infected passerine birds had histologic lesions of malaria, and malarial parasites may have contributed to the death of at least 4 animals. These findings provide new genetic data on passerine hematozoa, including initial sequences of apicoplast DNA, and emphasize the relevance of parasite prevalence, evolutionary relationships, and host switching to modern management and husbandry practices of captive birds.