Bj. Hatchwell et al., The prevalence and ecology of the haematozoan parasites of European blackbirds, Turdus merula, CAN J ZOOL, 78(4), 2000, pp. 684-687
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE
The prevalence and ecology of the haematozoan parasites of a rural populati
on of European blackbirds, Turdus merula, were investigated. Parasites belo
nging to eight species from four genera (Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium, Haemopr
oteus, and Trypanosoma) were identified. Prevalence was high: 83% of adults
and 80% of juveniles were infected by at least one species of haematozoa,
but no parasites were detected in 8-day-old nestlings. There were no sex di
fferences in infection rates and only Plasmodium infection varied with age
among adult blackbirds. Haemoproteus infections increased and Plasmodium in
fections decreased through the sampling period (January to July), but infec
tions with other haematozoa showed no seasonal change. Haemoproteus and Pla
smodium were negatively associated with each other, even during the period
when infections by both genera were frequent in the study population.