title: Hematozoa in two populations of the threatened red-billed chough in Spain.
abstract: The prevalence of hematozoa in two populations of red-billed choughs (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) was sampled in 1992 and 1994 in Spain. Two blood parasites infected red-billed choughs. A species of Plasmodium, possibly Plasmodium relictum, and the piroplasm Babesia frugilegica, are described for the first time from this host. Low prevalence (1/178, < 1%) of hematozoa in these populations, was evidence for a lack of effects of blood parasites on the life history and conservation of this threatened species in at least the two populations studied.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tella
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fargallo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gajón
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001717:Birds; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008289:Malaria, Avian / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology