HEMOSPORID (APICOMPLEXA, HEMATOZOEA, HEMOSPORIDA) COMMUNITY STRUCTUREAND PATTERN IN WINTERING WILD TURKEYS

The hemosporid community of 76 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silve stris) from South Carolina (USA) was examined using thin blood smears collected during January and February 1994. High prevalences and low a bundances of hemosporids characterized this community. Leucocytozoon s mithi and Haemoproteus meleagridis occurred in 100% and 54% of the tur keys, respectively; a Plasmodium sp, was found in one bird. Prevalence of H. meleagridis was significantly higher in juvenile turkeys than a dults, but prevalences did not differ significantly among four trap si tes or by host sex. Mean (+/-SE) intensities of L. smithi, H. meleagri dis, and Plasmodium sp. were 3.4 +/- 0.4, 1.8 +/- 0.3, and 3.0 per 10, 000 erythrocytes, respectively. Abundances of L. smithi, N. meleagridi s, and Plasmodium sp. were 3.4 +/- 0.4, 0.9 +/- 0.2, and <0.1 +/- <0.1 per 10,000 erythrocytes, respectively. Juvenile turkeys had higher ra nk abundance values of L. smithi than adults, whereas no differences w ere found among trap sites or between sexes. No differences in rank ab undances of H. meleagridis were found among trap sites, host age, or h ost sex variables. Collectively, both common hemosporid species varied by host age, reflecting higher abundances in juvenile turkeys. Patter ns of hemosporid prevalence appeared similar to patterns found in subt ropical regions. Based on our data, we recommend using prevalence and abundance data to analyze the structure and pattern of hemosporid comm unities at the component community level.