Abstract
Migratory and non‐migratory passerine birds can carry several pathogens, including parasites, which may cause significant diseases in birds, other animal species and humans. Parasites have been shown to negatively impact many populations of wildlife, and this may become more significant with global temperature changes. This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in faecal samples of European passerines. Intestinal parasites identified were statistically associated with passerines phylogenetic classification, migratory habits (migratory, non‐migratory) and the type of diet (omnivorous, insectivorous and granivorous). A total of 385 passerines of 42 species were captured and their droppings collected. The prevalence of parasites in faecal samples of passerines was 15.6%. Intestinal parasites were identified in 50/309 (16.2%) migratory passerines and 10/76 (13.2%) non‐migratory passerines using the faecal flotation method. Coccidia were most often identified parasites; they were more likely to be present in an omnivorous bird species (p = 0.02). Syngamus spp. was more likely to be detected in omnivorous passerines (p = 0.04). Tits (p = 0.01) and finches (p = 0.006) were less likely to have intestinal parasites present in their faecal samples than passerines classified in other phylogenetic clades. Tits (p = 0.02) and finches (p = 0.008) were also less likely to have coccidia present in their faecal samples. Phylogeny was associated with the presence of parasites in faecal samples of passerines (p = 0.03). The prevalence of parasites, however, was not associated with the migration habit of passerines, but to the type of diet (p = 0.04). Our analysis suggests that the diversity of feeding sources of omnivore passerines exposes them to infection with intestinal parasites to a greater extent than granivore or insectivore passerines.
Highlights
A vast body of research has been published defining the epidemiology of different pathogens in migratory passerine bird species that are, or are potentially harmful for human or other animal species health (Bengis et al 2004, Hubálek 2004)
Parasites were isolated from the faeces of 60 of these 385 birds (15.6%; 95% CI: 12–19.2%): 50/309 (16.2%; 95% CI: 12.2–20.8%) migratory and 10/76 (13.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.4–22.9) non-migratory passerines had parasites in their faeces (Supplementary material Appendix 1 Table A1)
Passerines from clades 4 (OR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.02–0.7, p ϭ 0.01) and 7 (OR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.04–0.6, p ϭ 0.006) were less likely to have intestinal parasites in their faeces
Summary
A vast body of research has been published defining the epidemiology of different pathogens in migratory passerine bird species (passerines; Passeriformes) that are, or are potentially harmful for human or other animal species health (Bengis et al 2004, Hubálek 2004). Recent disease outbreaks in wild bird populations can or are expected to become more significant as a consequence of climate changes (Robinson et al 2010, Kilpatrick 2011, Fuller et al 2012) Besides their lethal effect, parasite emergence can change host population dynamics and modify coevolution relationships between hosts and their parasites. Intestinal parasitic infections are present globally and are a significant cause of illness and disease in animals and humans (Thomas et al 2005, Haque 2007, Benchaoui 2010) They may become a more significant problem in temperate climates because global temperature patterns may change established parasite–host relationships with an increased parasite development rate and a larger parasite pressure on the host (Tompkins and Begon 1999, Read and Taylor 2001, Hudson et al 2006). The purpose of this study was, to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in faecal droppings of different species of European migratory and non-migratory passerines, and to associate specific parasite prevalence with the birds’ phylogenetic classification and, with their migratory habit and the type of diet
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