Haemosporidian Blood Parasites in nestling birds of prey in Mongolia

Abstract

Haemosporidians are vector-transmitted intracellular parasites that happen in numerous bird species worldwide and may possibly have important effects for wild bird populations. Studies of haemosporidians most dedicated on Europe and North America, and only newly some study in the Neotropics has been done, where the occurrence and influences of the disease have been less considered and are not understood well. In this study we designed a study in the nestling birds of prey in Mongolia. We sampled blood from 72 raptors at 2 different species and evaluated avian haemosporidian infection by two nested PCR protocol and one Real time PCR protocol. Sequencing a portion of the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene of the parasite. From the sampled birds, 10 % were infected by Plasmodium. Inclusive, our findings advocate a high haemosporidian species richness in the bird community of Mongolia. In view of the frequency of local habitat loss that in this area is living, recognize how avian haemosporidians affect bird populations it is very important; in addition, more exhaustive sampling is required to fully understand the range of avian haemosporidian infection in this area.

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

“…This association has been reported before in the American kestrel ( Falco sparverius ) during breeding season and coinfected house martins ( Delichon urbicum ) [ 49 , 50 ]. Among hemosporidian parasites, Plasmodium has been linked to mortality and the decline in population levels of native birds in some regions [ 18 ]. Mortality in Strigiformes has been also attributed to coinfections by two or more blood parasite species [ 4 , 20 , 32 , 35 , 37 , 51 ].…”

“…Birds of prey are at the top of the food chain and play an important role in maintaining ecological balance [ 15 ]. For that reason, during the past few years, some studies have been published focusing on raptors [ 9 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. A thirteen-year study in Beijing revealed that 18% of diurnal raptors tested (Accipitriformes and Falconiformes orders) were positive for blood parasites, in contrast to 38% of nocturnal raptors [ 19 ].…”