PREVALENCE AND DIVERSITY OF AVIAN MALARIA PARASITES AT MIDDLE AND HIGH ELEVATIONS IN MONTANE PAPUA NEW GUINEAN BIRDS
| Author(s) | Carrea, Dominic V. | |
| Date Accessioned | 2024-06-12T16:29:36Z | |
| Date Available | 2024-06-12T16:29:36Z | |
| Publication Date | 2024-05 | |
| Abstract | Since its discovery, avian malaria parasites have served as an important model system for understanding the ecological and evolutionary forces behind host-parasite relationships. However, these parasites remain poorly characterized in many under researched areas. Samples were collected from Mount Karimui and the YUS conservation area to better understand the avian malaria parasites in Papua New Guinea (PNG). We used molecular methods to detect and identify avian malaria parasites (genera: Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon) from DNA in avian blood samples. For infected samples, we sequenced the parasite cytochrome b (cyt b) gene to identify parasite genetic lineages. We tested for avian malaria parasites in 75 blood samples from 29 bird species. Over half the samples (42 samples; 56%) were infected with at least one avian malaria parasite. Samples at the middle elevation site (1,350 masl - 1,575 masl) in Mount Karimui had a higher prevalence (37 samples; 67%) than samples from the high elevation (2,550 masl) YUS conservation area (5 samples; 25%). Infections from Haemoproteus parasites made up a majority of the overall infections (35 samples; 83%), while Plasmodium (21 samples; 50%) and Leucocytozoon (4 samples; 1%) were less common. About 40% of infected birds (n = 17) were infected by parasites from more than one genus; the majority were mixed Haemoproteus and Plasmodium infections (n = 16) while one sample was infected with all three genera. We identified 21 genetic parasite lineages, 12 of which have not been previously reported. This study is an important first step in characterizing the prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites in the montane birds of PNG. | |
| Advisor | enter | |
| Program | enter | |
| URL | https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/34470 | |
| Language | en_US | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | |
| Title | PREVALENCE AND DIVERSITY OF AVIAN MALARIA PARASITES AT MIDDLE AND HIGH ELEVATIONS IN MONTANE PAPUA NEW GUINEAN BIRDS | |
| Type | Thesis |