BLOOD PARASITES OF SOME JAMAICAN BIRDS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The prevalence of avian hematozoa in 1791 birds of 80 spp. and 22 families from Jamaica was determined. Haemoproteus spp. were the most common hematozoan encountered. Leucocytozoon spp. were diagnosed only in 3 overwintering North American migrants and the genus was absent in native Jamaican birds. The low prevalence of infection (7.4%) of blood parasites in Jamaican birds was closely similar to that seen in Neotropical birds and far below that noted for the Nearctic avifauna of the same families. Prevalence in adult and young birds was virtually identical; transmission occurred primarily during Feb.-April.