Haemosporidian parasites of tits (paridae) and old world flycatchers (muscicapidae) in curonian spit and research of their transmission

In this study, we aimed to determine the diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites circulating in the populations of Tits and Old World Flycatchers in the Curonian Spit. We aimed to determine the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites in the study area by comparing the genetic lineages of these parasites obtained from the juvenile birds as well as Culicoides biting midges. A total of 164 blood samples from adult birds and 199 juvenile birds were tested. We identified 64 and 40 birds infected with avian haemosporidian parazites respectively. Sixteen different genetic lineages of parasites were identified in adult birds: parasites of Plasmodium ashfordi genetic lineage pGRW02, P. circumflexum pTURDUS1, P. relictum pGRW11 and Plasmodium spp. pGRW09, pRSTR1 and pSYAT24, also Haemoproteus pallidus hCOLL2 and hPFC1, H. balmorali hCOLL3 and hSFC1, H. majoris hPHSIB1, hPARUS1, hWW2, Haemoproteus spp. hPFC3 and hSFC10 and Leucocytozoon sp. parasites of lineage lPARUS4. Parasites of seven genetic lineages of avian haemosporidian parasites have been identified in juvenile birds of Tits and Old World Flycatchers: Plasmodium relictum pSGS1, H. majoris hPARUS1, hPHSIB1, hCWT4, hWW2, Haemoproteus sp. hPARUS10 and Leucocytozoon sp. lPARUS15. Total of 292 Culicoides biting midges were collected and investigated from the nest boxes in Curonian spit and Neris regional park. Twelve of these biting midges were infected with avian haemosporidian parasites. Six genetic lineages of haemosporidian parasites (Haemoproteus minutus hTUPHI01 and hTURDUS2, H. lanii hRB1, H. majoris hCWT4, H. tartakovskyi hSISKIN1 and Plasmodium relictum pSGS1) were detected in biting midges belonging to four species: Culicoides kibunensis, C. pictipennis, C. segnis, C. punctatus. The study revealed that Culicoides segnis biting midges may be involved in the transmission of Haemoproteus majoris (genetic lineage hCWT4) parasites. C. punctatus midges may be involved in the transmission of H. majoris (hWW2) parasites