Prevalence of haemosporidians in a Neotropical endemic bird area

Abstract

, an isolated coastal massif in northern Colombia that contains a large number of biomes and that is experiencing high rates of habitat loss. We sampled birds from 25 species at 2 different altitudes (1640 and 2100 m asl) and determined avian haemosporidian infection by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing a portion of the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene of the parasite. From the sampled birds, 32.1% were infected by at least 1 of 12 unique cyt b lineages of haemosporidian genera: Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, and subgenus Parahaemoproteus. We found a higher prevalence of avian haemosporidians at low altitudes (1640 m asl). All endemic bird species we sampled had at least one individual infected with avian haemosporidians. We also found evidence of higher overall prevalence among endemic rather than nonendemic birds, suggesting higher susceptibility in endemic birds. Overall, our findings suggest a high haemosporidian species richness in the bird community of the SNSM. Considering the rate of habitat loss that this area is experiencing, it is important to understand how avian haemosporidians affect bird populations; furthermore, more exhaustive sampling is required to fully comprehend the extent of avian haemosporidian infection in the area.

Host species, and not environment, predicts variation in blood parasite prevalence, distribution, and diversity along a humidity gradient in northern South America

“…Accordingly, the geographic distribution, transmission, and prevalence of haemosporidians are often predicted by variation in water availability over time (Cornuault et al, 2013; Hernández-Lara, González-García, & Santiago-Alarcon, 2017) and space (Coon & Martin, 2013;Gonzalez-Quevedo, Davies, & Richardson, 2014;Svensson & Ricklefs, 2009;Wood et al, 2007). However, the influence of spatial heterogeneity in water availability on haemosporidians has rarely been assessed in the wild, particularly in tropical areas with substantial temporal and spatial variation in environmental conditions (Belo, Pinheiro, Reis, Ricklefs, & Braga, 2011;Galen & Witt, 2014;Gonzalez-Quevedo, Pabón, & Rivera-Gutierrez, 2016;Jones, Cheviron, & Carling, 2013;Sehgal, 2015).…”

Beyond illness: Variation in haemosporidian load explains differences in vocal performance in a songbird

“…Avian malaria is a vector‐borne disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium , Haemoproteus , and Leucocytozoon (Lapointe et al, 2012 ) and transmitted by insects of the order Diptera that have a worldwide distribution. This disease has been detected in tropical countries in bird species of multiple orders and families (Gonzalez‐Quevedo et al, 2016 ; Pulgarín‐R et al, 2018 ).…”

Haemosporidian Blood Parasites in nestling birds of prey in Mongolia

“…This issue is becoming more important as climate change-induced territory changes are rapidly affecting the spreading of parasites and hosts [3]. In the last few decades we had observed an increase in the incidence of some infectious diseases in wild populations [4-6] and these be able to have a significant impression on wildlife populations[1].…”

“…Furthermore, while the blood parasites are generally thought to be harmless, we have evidence that infection can be harmful [26]. Studies have suggested that avian haemosporidian infection can cause reduced strength in flight; reduce speed, poor appetite, anemia, weight loss, airsacculitis, arthritis, lower reproductive success, reduced lifespan and death [6, 26-29].…”