Seasonal dynamics in mosquito abundance and temperature do not influence avian malaria prevalence in the Himalayan foothills.

ABSTRACT: We examined seasonal prevalence in avian haemosporidians (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) in migrant and resident birds in western Himalaya, India. We investigated how infection with haemosporidians in avian hosts is associated with temporal changes in temperature and mosquito abundance along with host abundance and life-history traits (body mass). Using molecular methods for parasite detection and sequencing partial cytochrome b gene, 12 Plasmodium and 27 Haemoproteus lineages were isolated. Our 1-year study from December 2008 to December 2009 in tropical Himalayan foothills revealed a lack of seasonal variation in Plasmodium spp. prevalence in birds despite a strong correlation between mosquito abundance and temperature. The probability of infection

SUBMITTER: Ishtiaq F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5632643 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature