Prevalence and Lineage Diversity of Avian Haemosporidians from Three Distinct Cerrado Habitats in Brazil

A study of avian haemosporidian parasites in Brazil's Cerrado Protected Areas revealed that habitat alteration does not significantly impact the prevalence or diversity of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus infections. Researchers analyzed 676 wild birds from three distinct habitats—intact cerrado, disturbed cerrado, and a transition area between Amazonian rainforest and cerrad—to assess how these environments influence parasite dynamics. While no significant differences were found among habitats, the study identified 15 previously unknown parasite lineages, suggesting potential regional endemism. Additionally, six known lineages accounted for 50-80% of infections, indicating a strong regional relationship in parasite distribution.

Belo, N. O., Pinheiro, R. T., Reis, E. S., Ricklefs, R. E., & Braga, É. M. (2011). Prevalence and Lineage Diversity of Avian Haemosporidians from Three Distinct Cerrado Habitats in Brazil. PLoS ONE, 6(3), e17654. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0017654