A Comparison of the Blood Parasites in Three Subspecies of the Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 87; no. 4; pp. 930 - 934
• Main Authors: Valkiūnas, Gediminas, Iezhova, Tatjana A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS American Society of Parasitologists 01.08.2001
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Bird Diseases - blood; Birds; Blood; Female; Female animals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Infections; Kazakhstan; Male; Male animals; Parasite hosts; Parasitemia; Parasitemia - veterinary; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases, Animal - blood; Parasitic Diseases, Animal - epidemiology; Protozoan Infections, Animal - blood; Protozoan Infections, Animal - epidemiology; RESEARCH NOTES; Seasonal migration; Songbirds - classification; Songbirds - parasitology; Vertebrata; Wild birds; Kazakhstan; Host parasite relation; Protozoa; Vertebrata; Prevalence; Spring(season); Host; Parasitism rate; Intraspecific comparison; Animal migration; Aves; Blood
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2001)087[0930:ACOTBP]2.0.CO;2

One-hundred and eighty yellow wagtails Motacilla flava belonging to 3 subspecies (Motacilla flava feldegg, Motacilla flava flava, Motacilla flava thunbergi) were caught during the spring migration in south Kazakhstan and investigated by microscopic examination of stained blood smears. Haemoproteus anthi, Haemoproteus motacillae, Leucocytozoon fringillinarum, Leucocytozoon majoris, Plasmodium relictum, Plasmodium polare, Atoxoplasma sp., Trypanosoma sp., and microfilariae were identified. The overall prevalence of infection was 47.8%. Prevalences of Haemoproteus spp. (27.2%), Plasmodium spp. (25.0%), Leucocytozoon spp. (8.9%), Atoxoplasma spp. (4.4%), Trypanosoma spp. (1.1%), and microfilariae (0.6%) were recorded. No differences were discernible in parasite fauna or intensities of infection between males and females or between different subspecies. However, prevalence of infection of Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium spp. was different in different host subspecies. These differences can be explained by differences in geographical location of breeding areas of these birds.