title: The seroprevalence of avipoxvirus and its association with avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.) infection in introduced passerine birds in the southern regions of the North Island of New Zealand.
abstract: Blood samples were collected from 65 free-ranging birds from six species in the southern North Island of New Zealand. Sera from the birds were tested for the presence of avipoxvirus (APV) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and blood cells from 55 birds were also tested for Plasmodium spp. by PCR. Forty-five birds (69.2%) tested seropositive to APV. Song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) presented the highest seroprevalence at 100% (4/4), followed by Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) (96.86%, 31/32), chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) (54.55%, 6/11), starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) (25%, 3/12), greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) (25%, 1/4), and European goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) (0%, 0/2). Plasmodium spp. DNA was detected in 15/55 birds (27.3%), including 11 Eurasian blackbirds, one song thrush, and three starlings. Eight Eurasian blackbird isolates (73%) grouped within the subgenus Novyella. Two Eurasian blackbird isolates and the song thrush isolate clustered within a different group with previously reported lineages LINN1 and AFTRU5. In addition, all three starling isolates clustered within the well-characterized lineage Plasmodium (Huffia) elongatum GRW06. All Plasmodium-positive Eurasian blackbirds and the song thrush were seropositive to APV, whereas only 67% of Plasmodium-positive starlings showed evidence of previous exposure to APV. A significant relationship between birds seropositive to APV and birds infected by Plasmodium spp. was observed (chi2 = 5.69, df = 1, P = 0.0086). To the authors' knowledge this is the first report describing the seroprevalence of APV and its association with Plasmodium spp. infection in introduced bird species in New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banda
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gartrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018150:Avipoxvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D058865:Introduced Species; D008289:Malaria, Avian / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D020308:Songbirds; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004279:DNA, Viral