Michael J Yabsley, Ralph E T Vanstreels, Ellen S Martinsen, Alexandra G Wickson, Amanda E Holland, Sonia M Hernandez, Alec T Thompson, Susan L Perkins, Christopher J West, A Lawrence Bryan, Christopher A Cleveland, Emily Jolly, Justin D Brown, Dave McRuer, Shannon Behmke, James C Beasley
BACKGROUND: New World vultures (Cathartiformes: Cathartidae) are obligate scavengers comprised of seven species in five genera throughout the Americas. Of these, turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) and black vultures (Coragyps atratus) are the most widespread and, although ecologically similar, have evolved differences in morphology, physiology, and behaviour. Three species of haemosporidians have been reported in New World vultures to date: Haemoproteus catharti, Leucocytozoon toddi and Plasmodium elongatum, although few studies have investigated haemosporidian parasites in this important group of species...
January 8, 2018: Malaria Journal