Feather mites and internal parasites in small ground finches (geospiza fuliginosa, emberizidae) from the galapagos Islands (Equador)
(2009) In Journal of Parasitology 95(1). p.39-45- Abstract
During a parasite survey, we collected data on the presence and distribution of feather mites, intestinal parasites, and blood parasites of small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) from 4 islands in the Galapagos. We recorded 4 species of feather mites, with the most common species, Trouessartia geospiza, present on the majority (77% 308/400) of individuals. Birds with high loads of T. geospiza came from larger islands and had higher body masses. We identified 3 species of intestinal Isospora (Isospora fragmenta, Isospora temeraria, and Isospora exigua) in fecal samples that showed a diurnal pattern of oocyst release. Among samples collected in the afternoon, infection prevalence was 61% (11/18), while only 0.5% (1/192) contained... (More)
During a parasite survey, we collected data on the presence and distribution of feather mites, intestinal parasites, and blood parasites of small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) from 4 islands in the Galapagos. We recorded 4 species of feather mites, with the most common species, Trouessartia geospiza, present on the majority (77% 308/400) of individuals. Birds with high loads of T. geospiza came from larger islands and had higher body masses. We identified 3 species of intestinal Isospora (Isospora fragmenta, Isospora temeraria, and Isospora exigua) in fecal samples that showed a diurnal pattern of oocyst release. Among samples collected in the afternoon, infection prevalence was 61% (11/18), while only 0.5% (1/192) contained oocysts in the morning. We screened 40 individuals from one island (Isabela) for blood parasites using molecular markers. Although no parasites of Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, or Plasmodium were detected, a high proportion of birds (80% 32/40) had systemic Isospora spp. infections. A high infection prevalence (74% 20/27), but low infection intensity, was confirmed using optical microscopy. This result could either be due to the detection of a previously unidentified systemic Isospora sp. parasite, or a result of the previously described Isospora spp. parasites causing systemic infections.
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- author
- Lindström, Karin M. LU ; Dolnik, Olga ; Yabsley, Michael ; Hellgren, Olof LU ; O'Connor, Barry ; Pärn, Henrik and Foufopoulos, Johannes
- organization
- publishing date
- 2009-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Journal of Parasitology
- volume
- 95
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 39 - 45
- publisher
- American Society of Parasitologists
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:64549155253
- pmid:19245281
- ISSN
- 0022-3395
- DOI
- 10.1645/GE-1655.1
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 84c4ace0-27ed-4f4f-ae4a-e5898a25cf81
- date added to LUP
- 2022-06-16 18:47:20
- date last changed
- 2024-01-03 13:53:41
@article{84c4ace0-27ed-4f4f-ae4a-e5898a25cf81,
abstract = {{<p>During a parasite survey, we collected data on the presence and distribution of feather mites, intestinal parasites, and blood parasites of small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) from 4 islands in the Galapagos. We recorded 4 species of feather mites, with the most common species, Trouessartia geospiza, present on the majority (77% 308/400) of individuals. Birds with high loads of T. geospiza came from larger islands and had higher body masses. We identified 3 species of intestinal Isospora (Isospora fragmenta, Isospora temeraria, and Isospora exigua) in fecal samples that showed a diurnal pattern of oocyst release. Among samples collected in the afternoon, infection prevalence was 61% (11/18), while only 0.5% (1/192) contained oocysts in the morning. We screened 40 individuals from one island (Isabela) for blood parasites using molecular markers. Although no parasites of Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, or Plasmodium were detected, a high proportion of birds (80% 32/40) had systemic Isospora spp. infections. A high infection prevalence (74% 20/27), but low infection intensity, was confirmed using optical microscopy. This result could either be due to the detection of a previously unidentified systemic Isospora sp. parasite, or a result of the previously described Isospora spp. parasites causing systemic infections.</p>}},
author = {{Lindström, Karin M. and Dolnik, Olga and Yabsley, Michael and Hellgren, Olof and O'Connor, Barry and Pärn, Henrik and Foufopoulos, Johannes}},
issn = {{0022-3395}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{39--45}},
publisher = {{American Society of Parasitologists}},
series = {{Journal of Parasitology}},
title = {{Feather mites and internal parasites in small ground finches (geospiza fuliginosa, emberizidae) from the galapagos Islands (Equador)}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1645/GE-1655.1}},
doi = {{10.1645/GE-1655.1}},
volume = {{95}},
year = {{2009}},
}