Diversity and prevalence of hemoparasites of wading birds in southern Florida, USA

Abstract

Relatively few studies on hemoparasites have been conducted on wading birds in the families Ardeidae and Threskiornithidae (order Pelecaniformes), especially in the United States. In this study, we obtained baseline data on the prevalence and genetic diversity of haemosporidian parasites in wading birds opportunistically sampled from southern Florida, USA. We detected blood parasites in White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Green Heron (Butorides virescens), and Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) with several novel host-parasite relationships. Infected birds had low parasitemias (average 0.77%, range 0–4%) suggesting that infections were chronic. Despite the low sample sizes for several of our sampled species, these data highlight the diversity of parasites in this understudied group of birds and suggest that additional studies are needed to investigate the potential impacts of these parasites on their health, especially since southern Florida is becoming increasingly urbanized which can alter parasite transmission or host susceptibility.

A Four-Year Survey of Hemoparasites from Nocturnal Raptors (Strigiformes) Confirms a Relation between Leucocytozoon and Low Hematocrit and Body Condition Scores of Parasitized Birds

“…In this sense, the majority of hemoparasites occurring in birds appear to be harmless to the host, especially for strongly host-specific genera such as Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon [ 3 ]. Although most of the cases of these two genera are detected as incidental laboratory findings, clinical manifestations may develop in animals with physiologically challenging states, chronic stress conditions, or debilitating synergistic diseases [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Naïve host species also seem to be more susceptible to clinical levels of blood parasite infection [ 7 ].…”

A single Haemoproteus plataleae haplotype is widespread in white ibis (Eudocimus albus) from urban and rural sites in southern Florida

“…Few studies have been conducted on haemosporidians of white ibis, but infections with Haemoproteus have been reported from both northern and southern Florida and prevalence tends to be high in adult birds ( Forrester, 1980 ; Telford Jr. et al, 1992 ; Coker et al, 2017 ). These studies morphologically identified the parasites as H. plataleae, a widespread parasite of numerous Ciconiiformes and Pelicaniformes species nearly worldwide.…”

“…( Bryan et al, 2015 ). Genetic characterization of H. plataleae from a small number of white ibis revealed only a single haplotype (called hWHIB01 at the time) ( Coker et al, 2017 ). However, a higher diversity of parasites may occur in ibis as Plasmodium elongatum (haplotye GRW06) and Plasmodium sp.…”

“…However, a higher diversity of parasites may occur in ibis as Plasmodium elongatum (haplotye GRW06) and Plasmodium sp. MYCAME02 have been reported from closely related Threskiornithidae species (a roseate spoonbill ( Platalea ajaja ) and a glossy ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus ), respectively) ( Bryan et al, 2015 ; Coker et al, 2017 ). In addition, three novel Plasmodium lineages within the MYCAMPE02 group (likely representing P. paranucleophilum ) and one novel Haemoproteus lineage (PLATAJH1) have been reported from roseate spoonbills in Brazil ( Chahad-Ehlers et al, 2018 ).…”

Gross pathology of herons and egrets (family Ardeidae) at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Northern California

“…Although are frequently admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centres. Published reports on the pathology of herons and egrets are scarce, but include studies on haemoparasites of ardeids at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Florida (Coker et al 2017), erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities in grey herons (Ardea cinerea) at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Spain (Santos et al 2017), MBD in free-ranging CAEG (Bulbulcus ibis) in Texas (Phalen et al 2005) and in grey herons in the UK (Thompson et al 2006) and eustrongylidiasis, an important parasitic cause of mortality in young herons and egrets, in multiple areas of the United States, including California (Wiese et al 1977;Franson & Custer 1994;Ziegler et al 2000).…”