Contrasting haemoparasite prevalence in larid species with divergent ecological niches and migration patterns.

Haemoparasites represent a diverse group of vector-borne parasites that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. In birds, haemoparasite infection rates may be associated with various ecological and life history traits, including habitat choice, colony size and migration distance. Here, we molecularly assessed the prevalence of 3 main haemoparasite genera (, and ) in 2 bird species with different habitat preferences and migratory behaviour: black-headed gulls () and common terns ().

Low Occurrence of in Gulls and Songbirds.

is a worldwide occurring nosocomial pathogen, the natural habitats of which remain to be defined. Recently, white stork nestlings have been described as a recurring source of . Here, we challenged the hypothesis of a general preference of for avian hosts.