Blood Parasites of Taiwan Birds*
Slides were collected and prepared by the 3rd author (REK) while on staff at the U. S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. This work was supported under Public Law 480, Section 104 (c), in part by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department Work Unit MR 005.10-0098 and in part by Contract NR 103–690/N0014–66–C between the Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy, and the Southwest Foundation for Research and Education, San Antonio; also by NIH Grants AI 05182-11, 12 from NIAID, U.S. Public Health Service.
Abstract
SYNOPSIS. Blood films were examined from 1477 birds of Taiwan (193 species, 49 families). Haemoproteus Kruse was by far the commonest parasite, with Leucocytozoon Danilewski a not very close second. It is probable that some of the Haemoproteus infections represented new species, and 1 occurring in the Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola thoracica sonorivox Gould) seemed characteristic enough to justify recognition as such; the name Haemoproteus bambusicolae sp. n. is proposed for this organism. Malaria was found in 77 birds, the greatest number of infections occurring in the Bamboo Partridge. Most of them were caused by Plasmodium juxtanucleare Versiani & Gomes, a pathogen of chickens, but a number were due to an undetermined species of Plasmodium. The Bamboo Partridge may be a reservoir host of the former. A few other identified species (P. rouxi Sergent & Sergent, P. hexamerium Huff, P. tenue Laveran & Mesnil) were seen, as well as some unidentified ones. Plasmodium tenue was seen in Garrulax canorus taewanus Swinhoe, a babbler: until now it was known only from the Pekin Robin (Leiothrix luteus Scopoli), also a babbler, in which we have found it extremely common. Sixty-four microfilarial infections were identified; they were especially frequent in the Button Quail (Turnix suscitator rostrata Swinhoe).
