A citizen science-based survey of avian mortality focusing on haemosporidian infections in wild passerine birds.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Haemosporidioses are common in birds and their manifestations range from subclinical infections to severe disease, depending on the involved parasite and bird species. Clinical haemosporidioses are often observed in non-adapted zoo or aviary birds, whereas in wild birds, particularly passerines, haemosporidian infections frequently seem to be asymptomatic. However, a recent study from Austria showed pathogenic haemosporidian infections in common blackbirds due to high parasite burdens of Plasmodium matutinum LINN1, a common parasite in this bird species, suggesting that virulent infections also occur in natural hosts. Based on these findings, the present study aimed to explore whether and to what extent other native bird species are possibly affected by pathogenic haemos

SUBMITTER: Himmel T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8542282 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature