Study of Morphological Characteristic and Prevalence of Haemoproteus Blood Parasite in Passerines in Bung Boraphet

Haemoproteus is one of the world's widespread avian blood parasite. However, it is rarely reported in Thailand; even at Bung Boraphet, which is an important wetland bird area located in the central part of Thailand, it still has never been reported. Therefore, information on species of haemoproteid and their epidemiology is important for the health of wildlife in Thailand. Samples of blood smear were collected from 633 passerines consisting of 6 orders, 15 families, 25 genera, and 35 species in total from Bung Boraphet. This is the first study to report 8 haemoproteid blood parasite species including Haemoproteus herdiadis, H. fallisi, H. dicruri, H, payevski, H. otocompsae, H. sanguinis, H. paseris and H. orizivorae infecting 9 avian host species. Haemoproteus species were identified and distinguished using morphological characters and physical measurement. Prevalence of haemoproteids infection was 12.01±0.46. This prevalence varied within avian species. The highest prevalence was found in Lonchura punctulata infected with H. orizivorae and the lowest prevalence was found in Rhipidura javanica infected with H. fallisi. Moreover, the study found relationship between Haemoproteus infection and feather's ectoparasite in all avian samples except in every avian host population that was infected with Haemoproteus.