Blood parasites of birds from Chiriqui and Panama Provinces in the Republic of Panama.

Abstract

Blood smears were examined from 3,715 birds from four areas in the Republic of Panama. Hematozoa were present in at least 142 (50%) of the 281 species examined. An overall prevalence of 18% of the individual birds was noted: Haemoproteus 9%, Plasmodium 5%, Leucocytozoon less than 1%, Trypanosoma 2%, Atoxoplasma/Lankesterella less than 1% and microfilariae 3%. Prevalence in each of the four study areas varied from 13% to 28%. Distribution is analyzed by orders, families and individual species of Plasmodium are tabulated. New host records from 170 species of birds are recorded.