title: First evidence and predictions of Plasmodium transmission in Alaskan bird populations.
abstract: The unprecedented rate of change in the Arctic climate is expected to have major impacts on the emergence of infectious diseases and host susceptibility to these diseases. It is predicted that malaria parasites will spread to both higher altitudes and latitudes with global warming. Here we show for the first time that avian Plasmodium transmission occurs in the North American Arctic. Over a latitudinal gradient in Alaska, from 61°N to 67°N, we collected blood samples of resident and migratory bird species. We found both residents and hatch year birds infected with Plasmodium as far north as 64°N, providing clear evidence that malaria transmission occurs in these climates. Based on our empirical data, we make the first projections of the habitat suitability for Plasmodium under a future-warming scenario in Alaska. These findings raise new concerns about the spread of malaria to naïve host populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America. clair.loiseau@gmail.com
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loiseau
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Harrigan
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cornel
authors.forename: Sue L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Guers
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dodge
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marzec
authors.forename: Jenny S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seppi
authors.forename: Ravinder N M
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Sehgal
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000472:pathogenicity*