Negligible evidence for detrimental effects of Leucocytozoon infections among Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) breeding on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska.

ABSTRACT: Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) are iconic waterfowl endemic to Alaska and adjacent areas of northeastern Russia that are considered to be near threatened by the International Union for Conservation. This species has been identified as harboring diverse viruses and parasites which have, at times, been associated with disease in other avian taxa. To better assess if disease represents a vulnerability for Emperor Geese breeding on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, we evaluated if haemosporidian parasites were associated with decreased mass or survival among adult female nesting birds captured during 2006-2016. Through molecular analyses, we detected genetically diverse Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, and Plasmodium parasites in 28%, 1%, and 1% of 607 blood samples s

SUBMITTER: Ramey AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8397833 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature