Identification of blood parasites in old world warbler species from the Danube River Delta.
Warbler species of the families Sylviidae and Acrocephalidae occurring in the Danube river delta are frequently exposed to blood-sucking arthropods that transmit avian blood parasites. We investigated infections by three genera of hemosporidian parasites in blood samples from six warbler species. Altogether in 17 (32.6%) of 52 blood samples, a PCR product was amplified. The great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) had the highest prevalence, with 63.6% (7/11) infected individuals, whereas no infection was detected in marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris). The most common parasite genus was Haemoproteus, which was found in 15.4% (8/52) of individuals. Seven known parasite lineages (five Haemoproteus and two Plasmodium) and two new lineages were recorded (one Leucocytozoon and one Plasmodium).
Svoboda
Ales
A
Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Tr. Svobody 26, CZ-771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic. alesvoboda@centrum.cz
Marthinsen
Gunnhild
G
Turcoková
Lucia
L
Lifjeld
Jan T
JT
Johnsen
Arild
A
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D046109:Passeriformes; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D045483:Rivers