title: Hemosporidian parasites of free-living birds in the São Paulo Zoo, Brazil.
abstract: Numerous studies addressed the diversity of bird Plasmodium and Haemoproteus parasites. However, a few have been carried out in continental avian hotspot regions such as Brazil, a country with markedly different biomes, including Amazon, Brazilian Savanna, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Pantanal, and Pampas. We present the first study on hemosporidian (Haemosporida) parasites in free-living birds from an Atlantic Forest fragment where more than 80 avian species have been reported. Within this area, the São Paulo Zoo locates, and it is the fourth largest zoo in the world and the largest in Latin America. A total of 133 free-living bird samples representing 12 species were collected in the zoo, with the overall hemosporidian prevalence of 18 % by PCR-based diagnostics. Twenty-four positive PCR signals were reported from four different bird species, including migratory ones. Columba livia, an urban species, considered nowadays a pest in big cities, showed 100 % prevalence of Haemoproteus spp., mainly Haemoproteus columbae. We discuss the epidemiological importance of new parasites introduced by migratory birds in the São Paulo Zoo area and the risk it poses to the captive species, which are natives or exotics. We also warn about the influence these parasites can have on the biodiversity and the structure of host populations by altering the competitive interaction between the free-living and the captive birds.
authors.affiliation: São Paulo Zoological Park Foundation, Av. Miguel Estéfano 4241, São Paulo, SP, 04301-905, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina Romeiro Fernandes
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chagas
authors.affiliation: Malaria Research Center, Superintendence for Endemic Disease Control, São Paulo Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 470, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lilian de Oliveira
authors.initials: Lde O
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Malaria Research Center, Superintendence for Endemic Disease Control, São Paulo Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 470, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliana Ferreira
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, 08412, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Gediminas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valkiūnas
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program of Ecology and Natural Resources, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michele Viana
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program of Infectology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Sena Madureira 1500, São Paulo, SP, 04021-001, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stéfanie Vanessa
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: São Paulo Zoological Park Foundation, Av. Miguel Estéfano 4241, São Paulo, SP, 04301-905, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Junqueira Vaz
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.affiliation: Malaria Research Center, Superintendence for Endemic Disease Control, São Paulo Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 470, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roseli França
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: Malaria Research Center, Superintendence for Endemic Disease Control, São Paulo Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 470, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil. karink@usp.br.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirchgatter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D001717:Birds / Q000469:parasitology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016787:Haemosporida / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
keywords: Atlantic Forest; Free-living birds; Haemoproteus; Plasmodium; São Paulo Zoo