A taxonomic and zoogeographical study of the haemoproteidae and leucocytozoidae of the avian family Pycnonotidae

White, Ellen Mary Patricia Rahal (1985) A taxonomic and zoogeographical study of the haemoproteidae and leucocytozoidae of the avian family Pycnonotidae. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (23MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

An extensive collection of blood film from the avian family Pycnonotidae, collected across the range of their distribution from Africa to the Philippines, provided an opportunity to survey the blood parasites of this host family and to study the taxonomy and zoogeography of the Haemoproteidae and Leucocytozoidae. -- Of the 9834 bulbuls of 69 species examined for blood parasites, 23.0% harboured haematozoa. Haemoproteus was the most commonly occurring blood parasite, recorded from 15.7% of the total pycnonotids examined, followed in prevalence by Leucocytozoon (4.6%), microfilaria (3.1%), Plasmodium (1.1%) and Trypanosoma (0.7%). -- Five species of Plasmodium (P. circumflexum, P. polare, P. relictum, P. rouxi and P. vaughani) and three species of Trypanosoma (T. avium, T. Calmettei and T. paddae) were identified. Three haemoproteid species were found in the bulbuls. Haemoproteus sanguinis Chakravarty and Kar 1945 was resurrected from synonymy with Haemoproteus otocompsae de Mello 1935 and both species were redescribed. A new species, Haemoproteus philippini sp. n., was described for the first time. Leucocytozoon brimonti Mathis and Leger 1910, Leucocytozoon dubreuili and Leucocytozoon majoris were also identified. It was recommended that Leucocytozoon brimonti be considered a valid species and that Leucocytozoon molpastis de Mello 1936 be synonymized with it. -- when the haemoproteid species were examined by host genera, H. otocompsae and H. sanguinis were found to occur more often in Pyhchonotus while H. philippini sp. n. occurred more frequently in Hypsipetes and Criniger. -- The zoogeographic distribution of Haemoproteus and leucocytozoon were examined. As evidenced by prevalence rate, H. otocompsae was more common in bulbuls towards the western end of their range, particularly in India; H. philippini sp. n. was a more easterly parasite, reaching its peak prevalence in pycnonotids in the Philippines; and H. sanguinis was fairly evenly distributed across the range of the host family. Leucocytozoon prevalence showed an upward trend from the eastern end of the pycnonotid range to the western end.

Actions (login required)

View Item