EFFECTS OF HOST AND SPATIAL FACTORS ON A HAEMOPROTEID COMMUNITY IN MOURNING DOVES FROM WESTERN TEXAS

摘要: Two species of hematozoa, Haemoproteus columbae and H. sacharovi, were observed on thin blood smears from populations mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in the Rolling Plains (RP, a semiarid dryland farming grazing area) Southern High (SHP, an intensively cultivated irrigated agricultural region with playa lakes) western Texas (USA). Prevalences sacharovi 91 18% RP (n = 44 examined) 81 36% those thte SHP 84), respectively. Although prevalences these not significantly different between SHP, prevalence was greater juvenile versus adult both localities. Mixed infections haemoproteid occurred 11 24% The frequency distributions relative density values (numbers parasites/2,000 erythrocytes counted) overdispersed hosts Relative densities higher SHP; likewise Observed differences two community across spatial host variables may reflect vector transmission physiological immunological status host. This study emphasizes importance using adequately quantified data only when examining microparasite communities at component level.