title: Avian malaria, ecological host traits and mosquito abundance in southeastern Amazonia.
abstract: Avian malaria is a vector transmitted disease caused by Plasmodium and recent studies suggest that variation in its prevalence across avian hosts is correlated with a variety of ecological traits. Here we examine the relationship between prevalence and diversity of Plasmodium lineages in southeastern Amazonia and: (1) host ecological traits (nest location, nest type, flocking behaviour and diet); (2) density and diversity of avian hosts; (3) abundance and diversity of mosquitoes; and (4) season. We used molecular methods to detect Plasmodium in blood samples from 675 individual birds of 120 species. Based on cytochrome b sequences, we recovered 89 lineages of Plasmodium from 136 infected individuals sampled across seven localities. Plasmodium prevalence was homogeneous over time (dry season and flooding season) and space, but heterogeneous among 51 avian host species. Variation in prevalence among bird species was not explained by avian ecological traits, density of avian hosts, or mosquito abundance. However, Plasmodium lineage diversity was positively correlated with mosquito abundance. Interestingly, our results suggest that avian host traits are less important determinants of Plasmodium prevalence and diversity in southeastern Amazonia than in other regions in which they have been investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ornithology,Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University,Philadelphia,PA 19103,USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fecchio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte,MG 31270-901,Brazil.
authors.forename: Vincenzo A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology,University of North Dakota,Grand Forks,ND 58201,USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Curso de Pós-graduação em Zoologia,Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul,Porto Alegre,RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: Christian B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Andretti
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia,Manaus,AM 69060-001,Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: D'Horta
authors.affiliation: Seção de Entomologia,Laboratório Central,Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Paraná,São José dos Pinhais,PR 83060-500,Brazil.
authors.forename: Allan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology,University of North Dakota,Grand Forks,ND 58201,USA.
authors.forename: Vasyl V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Tkach
authors.affiliation: Department of Ornithology,Academy of Natural Sciences and Department of Biodiversity,Earth, and Environmental Science,Drexel University,Philadelphia,PA 19103,USA.
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Weckstein
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D009033:Culicidae / Q000502:physiology*; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D058507:Host Specificity; D008289:Malaria, Avian / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D045303:Cytochromes b
keywords: 
                 Plasmodium
              ; Culicidae; Haemosporidian parasites; mosquito diversity; parasite diversity; vectors