Leucocytozoon Prevalence Differs by Sex in Louisiana Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo).

Abstract

Eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallapovo silvestris) in Louisiana have not fully recovered since their decline in the mid-20th century, despite multiple conservation management efforts. Wild turkeys are susceptible to Leucocytozoon infection and also serve as reservoirs of Leucocytozoon parasites. In this study, we tested for Haemosporidian infections (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon) in 106 different blood samples collected from hunted and live-trapped turkeys in Louisiana using PCR and sequencing of amplicons. Haemoproteus was the most prevalent genus (92%) and had the highest species diversity among the three genera. One-third of our samples were positive for Leucocytozoon infection, significantly less than Haemoproteus but similar to Plasmodium. Male turkeys were more likely to be infected by Leucocytozoon parasites than females. We detected two Leucocytozoon species, Leucocytozoon schoutedeni and Leucocytozoon sabrazesi, the latter possibly being the first detection in North America. There were four times as many turkeys infected with all three genera of Haemosporidia than uninfected turkeys. Last, we present a case study of an emaciated wild turkey in Louisiana; its death was attributed to Leucocytozoon infection. Future research into the pathology of Leucocytozoon infections will clarify whether Leucocytozoon parasites may contribute to population declines in turkeys through mortality or negative reproduction impacts, and whether one sex is more tolerant to Leucocytozoon infection than the other.