Background
Haemoparasites in feral pigeons have been studied in several countries but no data are available from Italy. The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence and diversity of Haemoproteus spp./Plasmodium spp. and Leucocytozoon spp. in feral pigeons from northwest Italy, as well as the association between infection and host age or sex.

background

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Haemoparasites in the hooded crow, Corvus corone cornix L., in the vicinity of Copenhagen.

Prevalence of new and known species of haemoparasites in feral pigeons in northwest Italy

Haemoparasites and their effects on hooded crows (Corvus corone cornix) are poorly studied. The aims are to evaluate the prevalence of Haemoproteus spp./Plasmodium spp. or Leucocytozoon spp., to correlate this with gross and histopathological findings, and to investigate the association among infection and geographical origin, age, gender, parasite distribution and prevalence among organs. Hooded crows (n = 47) were collected within a regional culling programme from 3 districts in the province of Turin (Italy) and subjected to necropsy. Histological and molecular analyses were carried out on some tissues. Leucocytozoon spp. was detected in 46 crows (97.9%) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whereas 28 birds (59.6%) were found to be positive for Haemoproteus spp./Plasmodium spp. The distribution of parasites in several organs varied significantly, showing that Leucocytozoon spp. is ubiquitous in organs in contrast with Haemoproteus spp./Plasmodium spp., which have a specific predilection for spleen and lungs. The prevalence of Haemoproteus spp./Plasmodium spp. also differed significantly among the crows captured in the areas of the study. The high prevalence of haemoparasites emphasizes the success of ornithophilic vectors and the susceptibility of this species to infection. Differences in prevalence among the sites are probably due to orographic features of the areas, variations in vector species and density, or to crow population size or structure. In spite of the high infection rate, no gross and histological lesions were found. This finding further suggests an evolutionary adaptation between crows and avian blood parasites.

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Blood parasites in hooded crows (Corvus corone cornix) in Northwest Italy.

We studied the prevalence and genetic diversity of malaria parasites in the poorly investigated spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor) breeding in central Spain, aiming to describe the phylogenetic relationships among them and with other haemosporidians infecting the genus Sturnus. A total of 180 nestlings and 180 adult individuals from four different breeding seasons were screened for haemosporidian parasites using a nested PCR approach for the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. Although the malaria prevalence ranged between years, the overall prevalence was 6.94%. Adults had a higher prevalence than chicks: 12.77 vs. 1.11%, respectively. We molecularly characterized avian malaria isolated in peripheral blood samples taken from malaria-infected individuals. Sequence analyses revealed four unique Plasmodium lineages of avian malaria (STURUNI01, STURUNI02, SYAT05, SGS1) in our spotless starling population. The phylogenetic analysis showed a well-supported clade comprised by STURUNI01, STURUNI02, and SYAT05. The most common lineage (SYAT05) has been previously found in 26 other avian host species, including populations of spotless starling in Portugal. Because this sedentary species is widely distributed throughout the Iberian Peninsula, we suggest that the local transmission of these lineages might place migratory birds at infection risk.

Molecular characterization of avian malaria in the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor).

Trapping of Hooded Crows Corvus corone cornix has been conducted for decades in an attempt to regulate population size. However, the effect of trapping activity on the breeding performance of crows is more or less unknown. In this study, trapping activities, involving Larsen‐traps and decoy birds, were conducted at 14 Hooded Crow nest sites. Trapping was successful at eight nests, and a total of 12 individuals were caught. Hooded Crow breeding ceased within a few days following the trapping sessions and the territories were abandoned. This also happened at nests without trapping success, suggesting that the trapping activity itself, and not the actual trapping and handling of the birds, caused the cessation of breeding. The very high density of crow nests in the study area and the associated high risk of conspecific predation on the eggs is suggested as the most likely explanation for the observed effect on Hooded Crow breeding performance.

methods

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03078698.2001.9674266

Haemoparasites in the hooded crow, Corvus corone cornix L., in the vicinity of Copenhagen.

Citations

Prevalence of new and known species of haemoparasites in feral pigeons in northwest Italy

Blood parasites in hooded crows (Corvus corone cornix) in Northwest Italy.

Molecular characterization of avian malaria in the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor).

The impact of trapping and handling activities on the breeding performance of Hooded Crows Corvus corone cornix

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