Incidence of malaria in a wintering population of canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) on Chesapeake Bay.

Abstract

Canvasback ducks wintering on Chesapeake Bay had a 6% incidence of Leucocytozoon simondi and 2% incidence of Haemoproteus. Subinoculation of whole blood into Pekin ducklings produced a Plasmodium infection rate of 31%. Females were more frequently infected (12/22) than males (15/68). The parasite was identified as P. circumflexum.