No evidence of the presence of blood parasites in the Danube population of the common kingfisher Alcedo atthis in Slovakia

Birds can harbour various haematozoan parasites whose diversity and prevalence are affected by ecological interactions among hosts, parasites and their vectors, and thus differ between the bird populations. As haematozoan parasites can pose a negative effect on individuals health and breeding success, in this study we focused on the three most common genera, Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon, in a wild population of the common kingfisher Alcedo atthis. Fieldwork was conducted during the years 2016-2018 in the Danube River system in south-western Slovakia, where populations of the dipteran vectors are overgrowing each summer. Together we obtained blood samples from 85 adult birds, 49 males and 36 females, but no blood parasites were found in any individual examined. A possible explanation may be given by the nest type and its location since kingfisher's nests are located in riverbanks, what is a few levels below the main zone of occurrence of ornithophilic biting insects and they are also closed up, what could lessen the presence of the vectors as well.

Automated summary

This study investigated the presence of blood parasites in a wild population of common kingfishers in the Danube River system. The results showed that no blood parasites were found in any of the examined birds, possibly due to the type and location of their nests, which reduced the presence of parasite vectors.