Seasonal Variation in Detection of Haemosporidia in a Bird Community: A Comparison of Nested PCR and Microscopy.

In a 2-yr study on prevalence of Haemosporidia in an avian community in Ithaca, New York, USA, we tested the hypothesis that apparent seasonal variation in prevalence is influenced by the detection protocol. We confirmed a higher detection of Haemosporidia using a molecular diagnosis technique (PCR) than by microscopy; this further increased when the PCR test was triplicated. Microscopic examination and PCR techniques have different specificity and sensitivity and therefore different probabilities of detecting hemoparasites.

Are Purple Finches () the Next Host for a Mycoplasmal Conjunctivitis Epidemic?

Ever since 1994, when the bacterial pathogen jumped from poultry to wild birds, it has been assumed that the primary host species of this pathogen in wild North American birds was the house finch (), in which disease prevalence was higher than in any other bird species. Here we tested two hypotheses to explain a recent increase in disease prevalence in purple finches () around Ithaca, New York. Hypothesis 1 is that, as evolved and became more virulent, it has also become better adapted to other finches.

CHANGES IN TISSUE TROPISM OF MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM FOLLOWING HOST JUMP.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a pathogen of worldwide economic importance in poultry, is recovered in chickens, especially from the respiratory tract. Some strains, however, are specialized to other tissues and because it jumps from poultry to wild birds, the new strains also cause severe conjunctivitis in new hosts. Nevertheless, most studies of M.

THE EFFECT OF DEXAMETHASONE ON HEMATOLOGIC PROFILES, HEMOSPORIDIAN INFECTION, AND SPLENIC HISTOLOGY IN HOUSE FINCHES (HAEMORHOUS MEXICANUS).

Research on host response to infectious disease often involves pharmacological induction of immunosuppression, frequently through administration of dexamethasone. Reports on the effect of dexamethasone in birds are largely restricted to poultry and pigeons. This study describes changes in white blood cell (WBC) differentials, hemoparasite counts, splenic histology, and splenic CD3 immunoreactivity in House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus).

Complex interactions between bacteria and haemosporidia in coinfected hosts: An experiment.

Hosts are typically coinfected by multiple parasite species whose interactions might be synergetic or antagonistic, producing unpredictable physiological and pathological impacts on the host. This study shows the interaction between spp. and spp.

Ectoparasitism during an avian disease outbreak: An experiment with -infected house finches and ticks.

Hosts are typically co-parasitized by multiple species. Parasites can benefit or suffer from the presence of other parasites, which can reduce or increase the overall virulence due to competition or facilitation. Outcomes of new multi-parasite systems are seldom predictable.

Haemosporidian parasite prevalence, parasitemia, and diversity in three resident bird species at a shrubland dominated landscape of the Mexican highland plateau.

Background: Studies of avian haemosporidians allow understanding how these parasites affect wild bird populations, and if their presence is related to factors such as habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and climate change. Considering the importance of the highland Plateau of Mexico as part of the North American bird migratory route and as a region containing important habitat for numerous bird species, the purpose of this study was to document haemosporidian species richness and how habitat degradation, bird body condition, and distance from water sources correlate with bird parasitemia.

Methods: We assessed the presence of avian haemosporidians in three resident bird species through microscopy and PCR amplification of a fragment of the haemosporidian cytochrome b gene.