Hemosporidian infection in free-living Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Amazon biome, Pará State, Brazil: Parasitological, molecular, hematological, and biochemical analyses.

Hemosporidians are intracellular pathogens that infect a range of endothermic and ectothermic hosts and are transmitted by dipteran vectors. These parasites are grouped into four families: Haemoproteidae, Plasmodiidae, Leucocytozoidae, and Garniidae, with the genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon being the most common in birds. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to detect the infection frequency of hemosporidians and to perform hematological and biochemical analyses in free-living turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) in the Amazon biome, Brazil.