Hemosporidian infection in free-living Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Amazon biome, Pará State, Brazil: Parasitological, molecular, hematological, and biochemical analyses

Abstract

Hemosporidians are intracellular pathogens that infect a range of endothermic and ectothermic hosts and are transmitted by dipteran vectors. These parasites are grouped into four families: Haemoproteidae, Plasmodiidae, Leucocytozoidae, and Garniidae, with the genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon being the most common in birds. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to detect the infection frequency of hemosporidians and to perform hematological and biochemical analyses in free-living turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) in the Amazon biome, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from free-living C. aura specimens captured by the wildlife management team at Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport (Val-de-Cans) in Belém, Pará, Brazil. A total of 26C. aura specimens were examined. Parasitological and molecular analyses were conducted to detect hemosporidian infection, and hematological and biochemical analyses were also performed on all birds. Parasite forms suggestive of hemosporidians were observed in blood smears from 42.31 % (11/26) of the birds, while molecular analyses indicated 76.92 % (20/26) of the animals were positive. There was no significant difference in hematological values between the animals infected and those not infected by hemosporidians. In serum biochemistry, there was a significant difference in the albumin/globulin ratio, with higher values in uninfected vultures. It is concluded that Haemoproteus spp./Plasmodium spp. infections occur in C. aura in the Amazon biome. These infections did not cause evident deleterious effects on the health of the examined animals based on hematological results, but there were changes in the albumin/globulin ratio between infected and uninfected groups.