Abstract
Great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) have dramatically expanded into North America over the past century. However, little is known about the blood that parasites they support. Here, for the first time, we document an assemblage of trypanosome, haemosporida, and filarial nematodes co-circulating in invasive great-tailed grackles. Between February and July, 2015, 61 individuals were captured in an urban environment of College Station, Texas. Field microscopy and molecular diagnostics indicate that 52% (24/46) were visually infected with filarioid nematodes, 24% (11/46) with avian trypanosomes, and 73% (n = 44/60) with haemosporida parasites, such as Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) and Plasmodium cathemerium. Overall, 87% of great-tailed grackles were infected with blood parasites. Although 50% of individuals hosted parasites from multiple phylum, no patterns of parasite assembly were observed. Results indicate that great-tailed grackles can support a relatively high level of blood parasitism. However, the consequences for avian health remain to be determined.
Highlights
Populations of great-tailed grackles (GTGR; Quiscalus mexicanus) have dramatically expanded into North America over the past century [1,2]
Between 1880 and 2000, GTGR increased their breeding range in the United States from an estimated 64,000 km2 to more than 3,561,000 km2, an annual expansion rate of 3.4% [2]. This contemporary expansion of GTGR populations is likely supported by their unique ability to exploit food resources and safe habitats provided by human-modified environments [2]
Parasite presence/absence resulting from the above diagnostics was used to estimate the frequency of polyparasitism status (no infection, haemosporida (H) parasites only, filarial nematodes (F) only, trypanosome (T) parasites only, H:F co-infection, H:T co-infection, F:T coinfection, and H:F:T co-infection)
Summary
Populations of great-tailed grackles (GTGR; Quiscalus mexicanus) have dramatically expanded into North America over the past century [1,2]. Prior to 1865, GTGR populations were only documented in Central America, Mexico, and the southernmost tip of Texas. Between 1880 and 2000, GTGR increased their breeding range in the United States from an estimated 64,000 km to more than 3,561,000 km , an annual expansion rate of 3.4% [2]. This contemporary expansion of GTGR populations is likely supported by their unique ability to exploit food resources and safe habitats provided by human-modified environments [2]. The impact of expanding avian species, such as GTGR populations, on avian parasite communities remains to be determined
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