High prevalence and genetic diversity of Haemoproteus columbae (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in feral pigeons Columba livia in Cape Town, South Africa

• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06558-6
• Publication Date: 2019-12-27T10:02:43Z
• Authors: Carina Nebel; Josef Harl; Adrien Pajot; Herbert Weissenböck; Arjun Amar; Petra Sumasgutner
• Keywords: Haemoproteus; Plumage; Leucocytozoon; Melanism

Abstract In this study, we explore blood parasite prevalence, infection intensity, and co-infection levels in an urban population of feral pigeons Columba livia Cape Town. We analyze the effect parasites on host body condition association between melanin expression host’s plumage intensity levels. Relating to haemosporidian itself, study their genetic diversity by means DNA barcoding ( cytochrome b ) show geographic distribution related lineages worldwide. Blood from 195 C. individuals was collected April June 2018. Morphometric measurements melanism were recorded every captured bird. Haemosporidian prevalence determined screening smears sequencing. Prevalence Haemoproteus spp. high at 96.9%. The hosts negatively associated with intensity. However, unrelated melanism. sequences revealed presence four our pigeons, which co-occurrence within individual birds. Three (HAECOL1, COLIV03, COQUI05) belong columbae differ only 0.1% 0.8% gene. Another lineage (COLIV06) differs 8.3% latter ones is not linked a morphospecies, yet. No genera Leucocytozoon Plasmodium detected.