High prevalence and narrow host range of haemosporidian parasites in Godlewski's bunting (Emberiza godlewskii) in northern China
Publication date: Available online 18 September 2018Source: Parasitology InternationalAuthor(s): Boye Liu, Zhuqing Deng, Wei Huang, Lu Dong, Yanyun ZhangAbstractAvian haemosporidian parasites are highly diverse, have a wide range of host specificity, and reveal diverse compatibility with regard to host range and geographical distribution. Therefore, understanding haemosporidian parasite diversity in different host species and different regions is crucial. A survey of the haemosporidian parasite in 186 Godlewski's buntings in Beijing was conducted to compare infection patterns between Godlewski's bunting, local passerines and the global avian host. High prevalence (88.7%) was found in this bunting species, and it displayed annual stability during the sample period. Most of the infections were caused by four dominant lineages. In comparison with other lineages in local passerines, these four dominant lineages were relative specialists. Within these dominant lineages, three were clustered with lineages of morphological species. The findings suggest that high vector abundance and the compatibility of dominant lineages may play important roles in high haemosporidian prevalence, and the narrow host range of dominant lineages may be due to coevolution of this resident bunting and the parasites.Graphical abstract
Source: Parasitology International - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research