Regional and seasonal distribution of avian blood parasites from northern South Africa

Abstract

The prevalence of avian haematozoa in 2285 birds of 211 species representing 28 families was studied in samples obtained from five regions of the northern portion of the Republic of South Africa over a three-year period. Species of Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon were the most commonly encountered blood parasites with species of Hepatozoon, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium and microfilariae, in that order of frequency, occurring in far fewer numbers. Blood parasites were most prevalent in the Lydenburg district, and fewest at Nossob Camp in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and Pafuri in the Kruger National Park. Peak prevalence was primarily associated with rainfall rather than season. Die voorkoms van bloedparasiete in 2285 individuele voels van 211 spesies verteenwoordigend van 28 voelfamilies is ondersoek oor 'n drie-jaar periode in vyf gebiede in die noordelike dele van Suid-Afrika. Spesies van die genera Haemoproteus en Leucocytozoon was die algemeenste bloedparasiete terwyl Hepatozoon, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium en microfilaria, in daardie volgorde, minder algemeen voorgekom het. Die hoogste voorkoms van bloedparasiete was in die Lydenburg-gebied, terwyl min voels in die Nasionale Kalahari Gemsbokpark en by Pafuri in die Nasionale Kruger Wildtuin geinfekteer was. Die hoe voorkoms van bloedparasiete in sekere dele was hoofsaaklik korreleerbaar met reenval eerder as met seisoen.