Host phylogeny matters: Examining sources of variation in infection risk by blood parasites across a tropical montane bird community in India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Identifying patterns and drivers of infection risk among host communities is crucial to elucidate disease dynamics and predict infectious disease risk in wildlife populations. Blood parasites of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus are a diverse group of vector-borne protozoan parasites that affect bird populations globally. Despite their widespread distribution and exceptional diversity, factors underlying haemosporidian infection risk in wild bird communities remain poorly understood. While some studies have examined variation in avian haemosporidian risk, researchers have primarily focused on host ecological traits without considering host phylogenetic relationships. In this study, we employ a phylogenetically informed approach to examine the association between hos

SUBMITTER: Gupta P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7594458 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature