Prevalence of hematozoa in overwintering American redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla): no evidence for local transmission.
We examined American redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) for protozoan blood parasites on their wintering grounds to determine whether transmission of these parasites occurs prior to spring migration. A total of 73 blood smears from 37 birds were examined for presence and intensity of infection. Thirty-six birds were sampled in the fall, soon after arriving from northern breeding grounds, and the spring prior to departure. Two (5%) of the samples collected in the fall were positive for Haemoproteus fringillae and one (3%) had detectable infections of Trypanosoma avium. Individuals infected with H. fringillae were hatching year redstarts sampled in September and October. Intensity of infection was 78 and < 1 infected erythrocytes per 10,000 erythrocytes, respectively. None of the birds had detectable infections when resampled prior to spring migration the following March.
Garvin
Mary C
MC
Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 44074, USA. mary.garvin@oberlin.edu
Marra
Peter P
PP
Crain
Sarah K
SK
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016787:Haemosporida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D020308:Songbirds / Q000469:parasitology*