Avian malaria parasites (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae) in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Curonian Spit (South-East coast of the Baltic Sea)

Research on the Curonian Spit reveals that Culex pipiens mosquitoes are competent vectors for avian malaria parasites, specifically Plasmodium relictum (genetic lineages pGRW11 and pSGS1), and potentially for Plasmodium vaughani (pSYAT05). This finding sheds light on the transmission dynamics of avian haemosporidian parasites in Europe, where knowledge about vector species remains limited. The study employed a combination of morphological identification, PCR analysis, and dissection of mosquito salivary glands to detect sporozoites, confirming the role of Culex pipiens as a significant carrier in this region.

Platonova, E., Davydov, A., Erokhina, M., & Mukhin, A. (2024). Avian malaria parasites (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae) in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Curonian Spit (South-East coast of the Baltic Sea). Biological Communications, 69(3), 185–191. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2024.306