The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast

Abstract

Parasitism is a known cause of morbidity and mortality in wildlife species and may exacerbate population declines in species threatened by changing landscapes. The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is an unusual seabird that forages in the ocean but uses trees in old growth and late successional forests for nesting. Populations have declined in some areas due to both changing ocean conditions and reduction in breeding habitat, making it important to consider the impacts of other factors, such as parasites and pathogens, on murrelet health and reproduction. In this study we describe a novel blood parasite (Leucocytozoon marmoratus sp. nov.) found in a murrelet population on the Oregon coast, USA and quantify its prevalence and burden in 374 individuals along the Oregon coast over a 6-year period. Genetic sequencing revealed that the species of Leucocytozoon we identified has a mitochondrial lineage most closely related to a Leucocytozoon found in yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) of New Zealand. The prevalence of Leucocytozoon in murrelets was 62 % (233/374) and within an infected individual the mean burden of parasitism was 7.1 parasites/100 white blood cells, with substantial variation between individuals (from 1 to 113 parasites/100 white blood cells). Both parasite prevalence and burden varied across years and were higher in years of poorer ocean conditions suggesting that birds experiencing poor conditions may have had reduced ability to fight infection. Male murrelets had significantly lower parasite burdens than females, which may be due to energetic constraints of egg production in breeding females. Importantly, murrelets that did not attempt a nest were associated with higher parasite burdens at the time of capture, perhaps due to correlations between parasitism and systemic health.