Evidence for the exchange of blood parasites between North America and the Neotropics in blue-winged teal (Anas discors).
Blue-winged teal (Anas discors) are abundant, small-bodied dabbling ducks that breed throughout the prairies of the northcentral USA and central Canada and that winter in the southern USA and northern Neotropics. Given the migratory tendencies of this species, it is plausible that blue-winged teal may disperse avian pathogens, such as parasites causing avian malaria, between spatially distant areas. To test the hypothesis that blue-winged teal play a role in the exchange of blood parasites between North America and areas further south, we collected information on migratory tendencies of this species and sampled birds at spatially distant areas during breeding and non-breeding periods to diagnose and genetically characterize parasitic infections. Using a combination of band recovery data, satellite telemetry, molecular diagnostics, and genetic analyses, we found evidence for (1) migratory connectivity of blue-winged teal between our sampling locations in the Canadian prairies and along the US Gulf Coast with areas throughout the northern Neotropics, (2) parasite acquisition at both breeding and non-breeding areas, (3) infection of blue-winged teal sampled in Canada and the USA with Plasmodium parasite lineages associated with the Neotropics, and (4) infection of blue-winged teal with parasites that were genetically related to those previously reported in waterfowl in both North America and South America. Collectively, our results suggest that blue-winged teal likely play a role in the dispersal of blood parasites between the Neotropics and North America, and therefore, the targeting of this species in surveillance programs for the early detection of Neotropical-origin avian pathogens in the USA may be informative.
US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA. aramey@usgs.gov.|Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health, The University of Georgia, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. aramey@usgs.gov.
Andrew M
AM
Ramey
US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA.
John A
JA
Reed
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Chenier Plain Refuge Complex, 4017 FM 563, P.O. Box 278, Anahuac, TX, 77514, USA.
Patrick
P
Walther
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Room 436, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, USA.
Paul
P
Link
US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA.
Joel A
JA
Schmutz
US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 250 Egan Drive, Juneau, AK, 99801, USA.
David C
DC
Douglas
Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health, The University of Georgia, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
David E
DE
Stallknecht
Environment Canada, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X4, Canada.
Catherine
C
Soos
D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004372:Ducks / Q000469:parasitology*; D005843:Geography; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
Anas discors; Blue-winged teal; Hematozoa; Neotropics; North America; Plasmodium