Paukščių hemosporidiniai parazitai (Haemosporida): sporogoninis vystymasis ir pernešėjų nustatymas

Haemosporidian parasites belonging to genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) are important pathogens of birds. Much information is available about prevalence, genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of avian haemoproteids, but vectors, sporogonic development and patterns of transmission of these blood parasites remain insuffiviently investigated. The objectives of this study were to examine sporogonic development of widespread Haemoproteus and Plasmodium parasites in wild-caught and laboratory reared blood-sucking dipteran insects and to determine vectors of these infections. The new method was developed for Culicoides experimental infections with Haemoproteus parasites. Using this method it was determined that five Haemoproteus parasites (Haemoproteus noctuae, H. syrnii, H. minutus, H. motacillae and H. attenuatus) complete sporogonic development in laboratory reared biting midge Culicoides nubeculosus. This insect is susceptible to many Haemoproteus infections. It has also been shown that high Hemoproteus parasitemia is lethal to C. impunctatus biting midges. Mortality is caused by migrating ookinetes that damage thorax and abdomen of insect. In this study we compared the sporogonic development of P. relictum (GRW4) in experimentally infected Culex pipiens form molestus and C. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. The pattern of sporogonic development of this malaria strain was the same in diferent mosquito species