Hematozoa of Hatch-year Common Mergansers from Michigan

TitleHematozoa of Hatch-year Common Mergansers from Michigan
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2001
AuthorsDejong RJ, Reimink RL, Blankespoor HD
JournalJournal of Wildlife Diseases
Volume37
Pagination403-407
KeywordsPLASMODIUM
Abstract

Fifty-five hatch-year common mergansers (Mergus merganser) were sampled for hematozoa from Douglas Lake (Michigan, USA) on 17 July 1995. Forty-one (75%) were infected with hematozoa. Haemoproteus greineri and Leucocytozoon simondi were common, infecting 28 (51%) and 26 (47%) common mergansers, respectively. Plasmodium circumflexum infected two (4%) birds. The common merganser is a new host record for H. greineri and P. circumflexum. Intensity data indicate possible negative interspecific interaction between H. greineri and L. simondi.