Savage Amy F, Robert Vincent, Goodman Steven M, Raharimanga Vahomalala, Raherilalao Marie Jeanne, Andrianarimisa Aristide, Ariey Frédéric, Greiner Ellis C
Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Box 110880, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
J Wildl Dis. 2009 Oct;45(4):907-20. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-45.4.907.
Madagascar has long been recognized for its unique and diverse biota. In particular, significant effort has been made to establish baseline population data to better conserve the endemic avifauna. During field expeditions between 1993 and 2004, birds were mist-netted at 11 different sites, at elevations from 60 m to 2,050 m above sea level. Data on endemic status, forest type, and habitat preference were recorded. Thin blood films from 947 birds, belonging to 26 families and 64 species, were examined by light microscopy to determine the prevalence of blood parasites. Of these 947 birds, 30.7% were infected by at least one species of blood parasite, 26.8% of which were infected by more than one species. Species of Haemoproteus were the most prevalent (17.4%), followed by microfilariae (11.0%), Leucocytozoon spp. (9.4%), Plasmodium spp. (1.9%), Trypanosoma spp. (0.9%), and Babesia spp. (0.2%). Species level identifications confirmed the presence of 47 species of hemosporidians and trypanosomes, which is notably high and mirrors the diversity of their avian hosts. Eleven (23.4%) of these parasite species were new to science and thought to be endemic to the island. Significant differences in prevalence were observed by sample site, forest type (humid vs. dry), and habitat preference. Birds from all elevational zones sampled were infected, although not all parasite genera were present in each zone. Four of the six endemic avian families or subfamilies (Bernieridae, Brachypteraciidae, Philepittinae [Eurylaimidae], and Vangidae) were sampled and found to be parasitized. Of the families with the largest sample sizes, the Zosteropidae and Ploceidae had the highest prevalence of infection (65.6% and 49.3%, respectively). The vectors of hematozoan parasites in Madagascar are currently unknown. These results add to the current knowledge of avian parasitism in Madagascar and are of particular interest for the conservation of endemic species, as well as threatened or endangered populations.
马达加斯加长期以来因其独特多样的生物群而闻名。特别是，人们为建立基线种群数据付出了巨大努力，以便更好地保护当地的鸟类。在1993年至2004年的野外考察期间，在11个不同地点用雾网捕获鸟类，这些地点海拔从海平面60米到2050米不等。记录了有关特有物种状况、森林类型和栖息地偏好的数据。通过光学显微镜检查了来自26个科64个物种的947只鸟的薄血涂片，以确定血液寄生虫的感染率。在这947只鸟中，30.7%至少感染了一种血液寄生虫，其中26.8%感染了不止一种。血变原虫属的物种最为常见（17.4%），其次是微丝蚴（11.0%）、白细胞虫属（9.4%）、疟原虫属（1.9%）、锥虫属（0.9%）和巴贝斯虫属（0.2%）。物种水平的鉴定证实存在47种血孢子虫和锥虫，这一数量显著较高，反映了它们鸟类宿主的多样性。其中11种（23.4%）寄生虫物种是科学上新发现的，被认为是该岛特有的。在样本地点、森林类型（湿润与干燥）和栖息地偏好方面观察到感染率存在显著差异。所有采样海拔区域的鸟类都受到了感染，尽管并非每个区域都存在所有寄生虫属。六个特有鸟类科或亚科（贝氏倭狐猴科、短嘴犀鸟科、饰眼鹟亚科[阔嘴鸟科]和钩嘴鵙科）中有四个被采样并发现受到了寄生。在样本量最大的科中，绣眼鸟科和织布鸟科的感染率最高（分别为65.6%和49.3%）。马达加斯加血液寄生虫的传播媒介目前尚不清楚。这些结果增加了目前对马达加斯加鸟类寄生虫感染情况的了解，对于特有物种以及受威胁或濒危种群的保护尤为重要。
