Epidemiology of protozoan and helminthic parasites in wild passerine birds of Britain and Ireland.

ABSTRACT: Avian endoparasites play important roles in conservation, biodiversity and host evolution. Currently, little is known about the epidemiology of intestinal helminths and protozoans infecting wild birds of Britain and Ireland. This study aimed to determine the rates of parasite prevalence, abundance and infection intensity in wild passerines. Fecal samples (n = 755) from 18 bird families were collected from 13 sites across England, Wales and Ireland from March 2020 to June 2021. A conventional sodium nitrate flotation method allowed morphological identification and abundance estimation of eggs/oocysts. Associations with host family and age were examined alongside spatiotemporal and ecological factors using Bayesian phylogenetically controlled models. Parasites were detected in 20.0% o

SUBMITTER: Parsa FR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10090598 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature