New species of haematozoa from Apterygidae in New Zealand

Abstract

Babesia kiwiensis sp. nov. and Hepatozoon kiwii sp. nov. are described from the North Island brown kiwi Apteryx australis mantelli from New Zealand. These are the first records of haematozoa from kiwi and the first avian species of the genera Babesia and Hepatozoon from New Zealand birds. Conservation implications for infected kiwi are discussed.