<i>Haemoproteus jenniae</i> (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (<i>Larus</i> spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of <i>Haemoproteus skuae</i>.

ABSTRACT: Haemoproteus spp. are dipteran-borne protozoa that infect erythrocytes and reticulo-endothelial cells of birds. These parasites are not usually transmitted between birds belonging to different orders. The suborder Lari (order Charadriiformes) comprises ~170 avian species, the majority of which are aquatic, including gulls, terns, auklets, murres and skuas, among others. In spite of the diversity of this avian group, there is limited known diversity of haemosporidian parasites, with only 4 recorded Haemoproteus morphospecies thus far. We examined the blood smears of 21 kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) captured at a breeding colony in South Africa, as well as Haemoproteus-positive archival blood smears of 15 kelp gulls and 1 Hartlaub's gull (Larus hartlaubii)

SUBMITTER: Vanstreels RET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10941229 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature