Prevalence and genetic diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites in wild bird species of the order Columbiformes.

ABSTRACT: Diseases can play a role in species decline. Among them, haemosporidian parasites, vector-transmitted protozoan parasites, are known to constitute a risk for different avian species. However, the magnitude of haemosporidian infection in wild columbiform birds, including strongly decreasing European turtle doves, is largely unknown. We examined the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and subgenera Haemoproteus and Parahaemoproteus in six species of the order Columbiformes during breeding season and migration by applying nested PCR, one-step multiplex PCR assay and microscopy. We detected infections in 109 of the 259 screened individuals (42%), including 15 distinct haemosporidian mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages, representing five H. (Haemoprote

SUBMITTER: Schumm YR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7940316 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature