Seasonal Dynamics and Diversity of Haemosporidians in a Natural Woodland Bird Community in Slovakia

Despite the ubiquity of disease seasonality, mechanisms behind fluctuations in seasonal diseases are still poorly understood. Avian hemosporidiosis is increasingly used as a model for ecological and evolutionary studies on dynamics, but results complex, depending focus (hosts, parasites, vectors) scale (individuals, community, populations) study. Here, we examine local diversity haemosporidian parasites patterns infections, parasite richness, natural woodland bird community Slovakia. In 35 avian species, detected 111, including 19 novel, cytochrome b lineages. The highest numbers lineages were during spring autumn, corresponding with higher species richness infection prevalence these periods time. Nevertheless, breeders summer was relatively stable, Haemoproteus dominated only few abundant within each genus. While prevailing Leucocytozoon infections suggest that majority sampled birds wintered Mediterranean region, Plasmodium can be due to relapses reproductively active short-distance migrants. Multiple both intra- inter-generic ones, common community. Infection intensity peaked tended older birds, pointing role supressed immunity birds.