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چکیده
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Birds become infected with hundreds of vector-borne hemoparasites, including Haemosporidia (genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon), Trypanosoma species and filarial nematodes. These parasites are transmitted by the bite of various arthropods, e.g. mosquitoes, flies, Ceratopogonidae biting midges, and Hippoboscidae louse flies, which are mechanical or biological vectors. This study aimed to provide an overview on the prevalence of selected parasites in the blood of urban and wildlife birds in western Iran. From 2021 to 2022, blood specimens were collected from 181 birds belonging to 14 species, 11 genera, five families and four orders to assess the presence of DNA of Plasmodium/ Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, Trypanosoma and nematodes using group- or genus-specific primers by conventional PCR. In total, 35.3% of birds scored positive for tested pathogens, i.e. 31.5% for Plasmodium/Haemoproteus, 9.4% for filarial nematodes, 3.8% for Trypanosoma and 2.2% for Leucocytozoon. Infected birds belonged to 11 species, five families and four orders including Passer domesticus, Sturnus vulgaris, Buteo buteo, Buteo rufinus, Falco tinnunculus, Falco cherrug, Circus aeruginosus, Accipiter nusus, Bubo bubo, Athene noctua, Aquila chryaetos, Aquila pomarina, Circaetus gallicus and Gyps vulvus. Data reported herein represent the first large-scale molecular-based study on avian haemoparasitosies in Iran. Sanger sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis of the obtained isolates, will add to our knowledge of host- parasite relationships of avian haemosporidia in Iran.
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