High Prevalence of Leucocytozoon Parasites in Nestling Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) in the Northern Great Basin, U.S.A.

Jeffries, Michelle; Miller, Robert A.; Laskowski, M; Carlisle, Jay D.

doi:10.3356/jrr-14-24.1

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(44 reference statements)

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“…We did not sequence Plasmodium within our population so this result suggests that some Haemoproteus lineages are able to reach patency in very young birds (e.g. Jeffries et al 2015; Václav et al 2016). The presence of multiple co-infections in some birds and the lack of good quality sequence for all PCR-positive birds mean that we cannot reliably examine genus-specific prevalence within our population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

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High rates of infection by blood parasites during the nestling phase in UK Columbids with notes on ecological associations

et al. 2016

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SUMMARY 26Studies of blood parasite infection in nestling birds rarely find a high prevalence 27 of infection. This is likely due to a combination of short nestling periods (limiting 28 the age at which nestlings can be sampled) and long parasite prepatent periods 29 before gametocytes can be detected in peripheral blood. Here, we examine rates 30 of blood parasite infection in nestlings from three Columbid species in the UK. 31We use this system to address two key hypotheses in the epidemiology of avian 32 haemoparasites: first, that nestlings in open nests have a higher prevalence of 33 infection; and second, that nestlings sampled at 14 days old have a higher 34 apparent infection rate than those sampled at 7 days old. Open-nesting 35 individuals had a 54% infection rate compared to 25% for box-nesters, probably 36 due to an increased exposure of open-nesting species to dipteran vectors. 37Nestlings sampled at 14 days had a 68% infection rate compared to 32% in 38 nestlings sampled at 7 days, suggesting that rates of infection in the nest are 39 high. Further work should examine nestlings post-fledging to identify rates of 40 successful parasite infection (as opposed to abortive development within a dead-41 end host) as well as impacts on host post-fledging survival and behaviour. 42 43

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Studies of raptor nestlings, which can be sampled later in the developmental period than passerines, tend to find higher rates of nestling infection. For example, a 100% Leucocytozoon infection rate was found in 23–34-day-old Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis nestlings (Jeffries et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High rates of infection by blood parasites during the nestling phase in UK Columbids with notes on ecological associations

et al. 2016

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“…Studies on the prevalence of Leucocytozoon and other haemosporidian parasites in raptors are numerous and mostly suggest high prevalence, in some cases up to 100% ( Jeffries et al, 2015 ; Valkiunas, 2005 ). Recent studies have shown Leucocytozoon infections to be highly prevalent also in passerine species with similar or shorter altricial periods than the studied raptors ( Schmid et al, 2017 ; Schumm et al, 2019 ; Shurulinkov et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence of Leucocytozoon spp. in nestlings of three wild raptor species including implications on haematological and blood chemistry values

Wiegmann

Springer

Rinaud

et al. 2021

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Leucocytozoonosis is a vector-borne infection of birds, caused by members of the haemosporidian genus Leucocytozoon . The clinical presentation may range from asymptomatic to severe disease. Consequences of Leucocytozoon infection on blood profiles remain to be described, especially for different host species in the wild. In the current study, the prevalence of Leucocytozoon infection was determined in wild nestlings of three European raptor species, the common buzzard ( Buteo buteo , n = 464), red kite ( Milvus milvus , n = 46) and northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis , n = 18). Among 528 nestlings, 51.9% (n = 274) were infected with Leucocytozoon spp., whereby the highest prevalence was found in common buzzards (54.9%), followed by red kites (32.6%) and northern goshawks (22.2%). For a subset of 87 individuals (50 common buzzards, 29 red kites, 8 northern goshawks), a detailed analysis of differential leukocyte counts and several blood chemistry parameters in response to infection was conducted: AP (alkaline phosphatase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), GLDH (glutamate dehydrogenase), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase), CK (creatine kinase), BuChE (butyrylcholinesterase), BA (bile acids), ALB (albumin) and TP (total protein). Even though in the physiological range, infected nestlings displayed significantly increased levels of heterophils, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, bile acids and butyrylcholinesterase, but decreased lymphocyte and monocyte values compared to uninfected ones. Furthermore, significant species differences with regard to blood parameters, but no sex differences were found. Overall, obtained results show a high prevalence, but a low pathogenicity of Leucocytozoon spp. in wild raptor chicks, presumably resulting from coevolutionary adaptation, but show signatures of infection in the haematological and blood chemistry profiles.

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Prevalence of hematozoan parasites in Red Kite nestlings from France

et al. 2020

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Blood pathogens may be harmful for birds and thus, represent a potential threat for some populations. To date, only few data are available on the prevalence of hematozoans in the Red Kite, a raptor endemic to the Western Palearctic listed as Near Threatened within its global range. Here, we report the first screening of haemosporidian parasites in Red Kite nestlings from French breeding areas. The blood of 47 nestlings was sampled in three areas in Eastern France and the prevalence of three genera of blood pathogens, Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus and Plasmodium, was measured based on PCR-assays. Thirteen nestlings were positive to Leucocytozoon sp. (n=13) and Plasmodium relictum (n=1), which corresponds to an overall prevalence of 28%. This prevalence is higher than those previously reported for the Red Kite in other countries. This is the first record of P. relictum, a potential pathogen for birds, in the Red Kite. No relationship was found between the body condition of nestlings and the occurrence of haemosporidians. Our findings suggest that hematozoans could be a limited threat for nestlings but prevalence in adults, a sensitive stage for the population dynamic of Red Kite, remains poorly known and should be further investigated at least in its main breeding areas.

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High Prevalence of Leucocytozoon Parasites in Nestling Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) in the Northern Great Basin, U.S.A.

Cited by 5 publications

References 36 publications

High rates of infection by blood parasites during the nestling phase in UK Columbids with notes on ecological associations

High rates of infection by blood parasites during the nestling phase in UK Columbids with notes on ecological associations

The prevalence of Leucocytozoon spp. in nestlings of three wild raptor species including implications on haematological and blood chemistry values

Prevalence of hematozoan parasites in Red Kite nestlings from France

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