Haemoproteus in passerines: infection dynamics at the individual level

The genus Haemoproteus is worldwide distributed parasitic protist, which belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa. This blood parasite has dixenous life cycle and he is occurs in the bird's blood and in invertebrate vectors. Genus Haemoproteus is transmitted by blood-sucking vectors, biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) and hippoboscid flies (Hippoboscidae). Vectors are final hosts of the genus Haemoproteus and the sexual process takes place in these vectors. Birds are intermediate hosts, in which representatives of the genus Haemoproteus spend most of their lives. In this bachelor thesis I focused on the influence of the genus Haemoproteus on birds and I focus on the time, when the bird gets infected by Haemoproteus in his life. Key words: Haemoproteus, birds, infection, life cycle, host, Ceratopogonidae, Hippoboscida