Exploring host and geographical shifts in transmission of haemosporidians in a Palaearctic passerine wintering in India

Abstract

This is the first molecular study of avian haemosporidia diversity in wintering populations of the Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) in India that explores the extent of host and geographical shifts in transmission areas. In 156 birds, six Haemoproteus lineages (37.8%; 95% CI 30.41–45.82%) and one Plasmodium lineage (1.9%; 95% CI 0.053–5.6%) were recovered. Of these, two Haemoproteus lineages (ACDUM1 and ACDUM5) were detected in resident Himalayan birds, albeit in low frequency with absence of gametocytes in the blood suggesting no transmission from breeding to wintering quarters. In addition, there was no host sharing of local parasite lineages with the wintering populations.