Journal
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
Volume 112, Issue 5, Pages 2037-2043Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3362-y
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia [PTDC/BIA-BDE/64063/2006]
- FCT [SFRH/BPD/20682/2004]
- Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [CGL2010-15734/BOS]
- University of Groningen
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [PTDC/BIA-BDE/64063/2006, SFRH/BPD/20682/2004] Funding Source: FCT
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In their African freshwater wintering habitats, shorebirds show a high prevalence of blood parasites, whereas no parasites are detected elsewhere along the migration route. We looked at two genera of haemosporidian parasites, Haemoproteus and Plasmodium, in the long-distance migrating Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) along a geographical/seasonal gradient to verify the infection pattern and examine possible hidden organ infections at European staging areas. We amplified parasite DNA from blood of 53 healthy birds wintering in Mali, 53 samples of seven organ tissues (spleen, liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, and pectoral muscle) from healthy individuals caught during spring migration, and 18 weak birds found sick in summer in The Netherlands. We confirm that Ruffs wintering in Africa carried blood infections and that some infections developed into hidden organ infections during spring migration. Moreover, sick birds either had new infections (in one juvenile) or relapses (in an adult harboring an African lineage). Our results suggest that some parasites develop latency. This strategy may be beneficial for the parasite as it may take control over reappearance in the blood to help further transmission.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available