Toxoplasma gondii was found in endemic Hawaiian birds, including 2 nene geese (Nesochen sandvicensis), 1 red-footed booby (Sula sula), and an introduced bird, the Erckels francolin (Francolinus erckelii). All 4 birds died of disseminated toxoplasmosis; the parasite was found in sections of many organs, and the diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-T. gondii-specific ...

Abstract Within animal hybrid zones, parasites may determine competitive outcomes between host species and thus affect hybridization dynamics. We addressed this hypothesis by evaluating haemosporidian prevalence community composition in a rapidly moving zone Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) Carolina (P. carolinensis). Using molecular methods, we screened for haemosporidians multip...

Species identification is crucial for studies of parasite diversity, yet most surveys include taxa identified only to genus or family level. Using a large dataset comprising 950 surveys of helminth communities from 650 different species of fish, bird and mammal hosts, we investigated what determines the level of taxonomic resolution achieved. Identification of all helminths down to species leve...

The hosts of brood parasitic birds are under strong selection pressure to recognize and remove foreign eggs from their nests, but parasite eggs may be too large to be grasped whole and too strong to be readily pierced by the host's bill. Such operating constraints on egg removal are proposed to force some hosts to accept parasite eggs, as the costs of deserting parasitized clutches can outweigh...

Interspecific brood or nest parasitism is a relatively common breeding behavior in birds. Through this reproductive tactic, brood-parasites avoid the costs associated with raising and maintaining chicks by laying their eggs nests of host species which they are specialized. The cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) follows parasite strategy. Female cuckoos lay other bird species, mimicking egg shape, size, c...

Abstract A key benefit of sociality is a reduction in predation risk. Cohesive group behaviour and rapid collective decision making are essential for reducing risk groups. Parasite infection might reduce an individuals’ grouping behaviours thereby change the as whole. To investigate relationship between parasite behaviours, we studied groups three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus , v...

Several studies have highlighted the association between bird song and parasite load, but there is no evidence regarding the relationships among pathogens and alarm or distress calls, which are used in antipredator strategies. We analyzed the association between virus infection and the distress calls of lesser short-toed lark (Calandrella rufescens), addressing the relationships between call ac...

This is a report of tick species, parasite prevalence and infestation intensity of birds in a forest fragment (18° 56' 57'' S and 48° 12' 14'' W) within the Brazilian cerrado (savanna), in the municipality of Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 162 birds from 26 species were captured. One adult tick, 296 larvae and 67 nymphs were found on passerine birds. Of these, it was iden...