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Characterization of haemosporidian infections in warblers and sparrows at south-western European reed beds

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Abstract

The prevalence and intensity of avian haemosporian infections (genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) were investigated using molecular techniques and microscopy in nine passerine species at three Portuguese reed beds along a small latitudinal gradient. The effect of age, sex, season, site and year in the infection prevalence was evaluated for some of these host species. Of the sampled birds, 34.5% were infected, all with low level parasitemias. Haemoproteus spp. was only present in migrant species and was not locally transmitted, while Plasmodium spp. infected more species and reached a higher overall prevalence. Prevalence differed among bird species and was affected by different variables for each species: it was associated with age in the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, with season in the Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti and with year in the House Sparrow Passer domesticus. Site did not influence prevalence for any species at this small geographical scale. Reed Warbler adults had already migrated to Africa and contacted with two different parasite faunas, whereas juveniles had not, thereby explaining the importance of age to explain parasitemia in this species. For the resident Cetti’s Warbler, prevalence varied significantly with season, perhaps due to lower food availability in autumn and winter, making birds weaker and more prone to infection.

Zusammenfassung

Charakterisierung von Haemosporida Infektionen in Grasmücken und Sperlingen in Röhrichtgebieten in SW-Europa

Wir untersuchten die Prävalenz und die Intensität des Vorkommens von Haemosporidien (Gattungen Haemoproteus und Plasmodium) in neun Singvogelarten in drei Portugiesischen Röhrichtgebieten entlang eines geringen Nord-Süd Gradienten. Wir evaluierten die Effekte von Alter, Geschlecht, Jahreszeit, Gebiet und Jahr auf die Prävalenz der Infektionen für einige der Arten. 34,5% der beprobten Vögel waren infiziert, alle mit geringer Parasitämie. Haemoproteus ssp. war nur in Zugvogelarten präsent und wurde nicht lokal übertragen, während Plasmodium ssp. mehrere Arten infizierte und insgesamt eine höhere Prävalenz erreichte. Die Prävalenz zwischen verschiedenen Arten war unterschiedlich hoch, und wurde durch für jede Art verschiedene Variablen beeinflusst: In Teichrohrsängern (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) war die Prävalenz mit dem Alter assoziiert, in Seidensängern (Cetti cetti) mit der Jahreszeit und in Haussperlingen (Passer domesticus) variierte die Prävalenz von Jahr zu Jahr. Auf dieser relativ kleinräumigen Skala hatte das Gebiet keinen Einfluss auf die Prävalenz, in keiner der Arten. Der Effekt des Alters auf die Prävalenz in Teichrohrsängern kann damit erklärt werden, dass adulte Teichrohrsänger bereits in Afrika waren und dort Kontakt mit einer anderen Parasiten Fauna hatten, während Jungtiere noch nicht dieser diversen Umgebung ausgesetzt waren. Für residente Seidensänger dagegen kann eine geringere Verfügbarkeit von Nahrungsmitteln im Herbst und Winter der Grund sein warum hier die Prävalenz saisonal variiert, welche die Vögel schwacher und damit empfänglicher für Infektionen macht.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (R.V., grant number SFRH/BD/28930/2006) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (J.P.-T., project number CGL2007-62937/BOS). The Portuguese Instituto para a Conservação da Natureza e Biodiversidade provided official permits for bird capturing and sampling, as well as logistic support for field work. The authors thank Sara Pardal for field assistance and Joana Morais for lab work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Marine Research (IMAR/CMA), University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal

    Rita Ventim, Miguel Araújo, Luísa Mendes & Jaime A. Ramos

  2. Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Rita Ventim & Javier Pérez-Tris

  3. Reserva Natural do Paul de Arzila, Instituto para a Conservação da Natureza e Biodiversidade (ICNB), Rua do Bairro 1, 3045-356, Arzila, Portugal

    Paulo Tenreiro

  4. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Centro de Educação Ambiental de Marim, Instituto para a Conservação da Natureza e Biodiversidade (ICNB), 8700, Olhão, Portugal

    Nuno Grade

  5. Reserva Natural das Lagoas de Santo André e Sancha, Estação Ornitológica Nacional do Monte Outeirão, Galiza Pavilhão A, 7500-999, Vila Nova de Santo André, Portugal

    Paulo Encarnação

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  1. Rita Ventim
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  2. Paulo Tenreiro
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  7. Javier Pérez-Tris
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Correspondence to Rita Ventim.

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Communicated by F. Bairlein.

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Ventim, R., Tenreiro, P., Grade, N. et al. Characterization of haemosporidian infections in warblers and sparrows at south-western European reed beds. J Ornithol 153, 505–512 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0767-1

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