FREQUENCY OF AVIAN HAEMOSPORIDIAN PARASITES IN BIRDS FROM MARGARITA AND COCHE ISLANDS, VENEZUELA

By amplifying and sequencing a mitochondrial DNA barcode (cytb), we screened the frequency of haemosporidian parasites (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon) in 366 birds (23 species) from Margarita and Coche islands, Venezuela. In Coche (N = 24), none of the birds were infected, while in Margarita (N = 342) 13 individuals were (3.8%). The frequency of these parasites in endemic bird subspecies was more than double than in non-endemic forms (endemics = 7.3% vs nonendemic = 3.1%, N = 342), but it was not statistically significant. We found eight parasite lineages, four of which are novel (COLPAS09, COLSQU03, COLSQU04, HYPRUF01). COLSQU03, recorded in a dove (Columbina squammata), falls within the Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) subgenus. This was unexpected because a strong signal of co-speciation has been found between Columbidae and the Haemoproteus (Haemoproteus) subgenus, suggesting a host-switching event.

Automated summary

By amplifying and sequencing mitochondrial DNA barcodes, the researchers screened the frequency of haemosporidian parasites in birds from two islands in Venezuela. The study found that endemic bird subspecies had a higher infection rate compared to non-endemic forms, with four novel parasite lineages discovered. Unexpectedly, a host-switching event was observed in a dove species, challenging previous co-speciation theories.