Neglected Avian Blood Parasites (Onchocercidae and Trypanosomatidae) in Migratory Passerines of the Temperate Zone, Eastern Baltic Region
Passerine birds (n = 3335) of 19 species were caught and investigated for the presence of Trypanosomatidae and Onchocercidae parasites using the buffy coat method, microscopy and PCR in Ventės Ragas, Lithuania. Data on the spread patterns of these parasites are still lacking. The prevalences of <...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Rasa Bernotienė Tatjana Iezhova Vytautas Eigirdas Vytautas Jusys Margarita Kazak Rasa Binkienė |
| author_facet | Rasa Bernotienė Tatjana Iezhova Vytautas Eigirdas Vytautas Jusys Margarita Kazak Rasa Binkienė |
| author_sort | Rasa Bernotienė |
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| description | Passerine birds (n = 3335) of 19 species were caught and investigated for the presence of Trypanosomatidae and Onchocercidae parasites using the buffy coat method, microscopy and PCR in Ventės Ragas, Lithuania. Data on the spread patterns of these parasites are still lacking. The prevalences of <i>Trypanosoma</i> parasites in birds of different species varied from 2.2% to 36.1%, while the prevalences of Onchocercidae parasites varied from 0% to 17.3%. Statistically significant differences between spring and autumn in the prevalences of Trypanosomatidae were determined for <i>Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Hirundo rustica</i> and <i>Turdus philomelos.</i> No significant differences between the prevalences of Onchocercidae in spring and autumn were determined. The prevalence of <i>Trypanosoma</i> was significantly higher for long-distance migrant birds compared with short-distance migrants, for omnivorous birds compared with insectivorous birds, and for open-nesting birds compared with birds nesting in nest boxes. The prevalences of Onchocercidae parasites did not differ for the same bird groups except for the prevalence in omnivorous birds, which was higher compared with insectivorous birds. Both groups of parasites were detected in juveniles, showing the presence of transmission in the study area. The diet, breeding behaviour and migration features of avian hosts can influence the prevalence of avian blood parasites. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2b9ca171b15a4be0a75dc383093f77e22025-08-20T02:33:58ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-05-0114545210.3390/pathogens14050452Neglected Avian Blood Parasites (Onchocercidae and Trypanosomatidae) in Migratory Passerines of the Temperate Zone, Eastern Baltic RegionRasa Bernotienė0Tatjana Iezhova1Vytautas Eigirdas2Vytautas Jusys3Margarita Kazak4Rasa Binkienė5State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaVentės Ragas Ornithological Station, Marių 24, 99361 Ventė, LithuaniaVentės Ragas Ornithological Station, Marių 24, 99361 Ventė, LithuaniaState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaPasserine birds (n = 3335) of 19 species were caught and investigated for the presence of Trypanosomatidae and Onchocercidae parasites using the buffy coat method, microscopy and PCR in Ventės Ragas, Lithuania. Data on the spread patterns of these parasites are still lacking. The prevalences of <i>Trypanosoma</i> parasites in birds of different species varied from 2.2% to 36.1%, while the prevalences of Onchocercidae parasites varied from 0% to 17.3%. Statistically significant differences between spring and autumn in the prevalences of Trypanosomatidae were determined for <i>Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Hirundo rustica</i> and <i>Turdus philomelos.</i> No significant differences between the prevalences of Onchocercidae in spring and autumn were determined. The prevalence of <i>Trypanosoma</i> was significantly higher for long-distance migrant birds compared with short-distance migrants, for omnivorous birds compared with insectivorous birds, and for open-nesting birds compared with birds nesting in nest boxes. The prevalences of Onchocercidae parasites did not differ for the same bird groups except for the prevalence in omnivorous birds, which was higher compared with insectivorous birds. Both groups of parasites were detected in juveniles, showing the presence of transmission in the study area. The diet, breeding behaviour and migration features of avian hosts can influence the prevalence of avian blood parasites.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/452dietfilariajuvenilenematodesnestingtrypanosomes |
| spellingShingle | Rasa Bernotienė Tatjana Iezhova Vytautas Eigirdas Vytautas Jusys Margarita Kazak Rasa Binkienė Neglected Avian Blood Parasites (Onchocercidae and Trypanosomatidae) in Migratory Passerines of the Temperate Zone, Eastern Baltic Region Pathogens diet filaria juvenile nematodes nesting trypanosomes |
| title | Neglected Avian Blood Parasites (Onchocercidae and Trypanosomatidae) in Migratory Passerines of the Temperate Zone, Eastern Baltic Region |
| title_full | Neglected Avian Blood Parasites (Onchocercidae and Trypanosomatidae) in Migratory Passerines of the Temperate Zone, Eastern Baltic Region |
| title_fullStr | Neglected Avian Blood Parasites (Onchocercidae and Trypanosomatidae) in Migratory Passerines of the Temperate Zone, Eastern Baltic Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neglected Avian Blood Parasites (Onchocercidae and Trypanosomatidae) in Migratory Passerines of the Temperate Zone, Eastern Baltic Region |
| title_short | Neglected Avian Blood Parasites (Onchocercidae and Trypanosomatidae) in Migratory Passerines of the Temperate Zone, Eastern Baltic Region |
| title_sort | neglected avian blood parasites onchocercidae and trypanosomatidae in migratory passerines of the temperate zone eastern baltic region |
| topic | diet filaria juvenile nematodes nesting trypanosomes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/452 |
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