Absence of haematozoa on colonial White storks Ciconia ciconia throughout their distribution range in Spain

JOVANI, ROGER; TELLA, JOSÉ LUIS; BLANCO, GUILLERMO; BERTELLOTTI, MARCELO

ORNIS FENNICA

FINNISH ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 2002 vol. 79 p. 41 - 44

0030-5685

Blood parasite surveys are being incorporated in the monitoring of vertebrate species. Blood parasites could affect life history traits of their vertebrate hosts, and hence its study is important for a correct and com­ plete understanding of the factors shaping their population trends. On a review paper of the Haemoproteidae of the Ciconiidae, only reported negative records ofa cap­ tive White Stork in France. Later, reported three species of haematozoa for White Storks, including one species of Haemo­ proteus, one Leucocytozoon and one microfilaria. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of blood parasites in Spanish White Storks using a large sample of in­ dividuals. To our knowledge, ours is the first study searching for blood parasites on nestling White Storks, and the first specifically focused on this species. Given that infection with blood parasites may show geographical variations in a single host species, we sampled several colonies throughout the distribution range of White Storks in Spain.