IDENTIFICATION OF HAEMOPARASITES IN FREE-RANGING AND RESCUED PSITTACINE BIRDS IN GUATEMALA AND BELIZE

Efforts of WCS-Guatemala Program, Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic, Belize Bird Rescue, and One Earth Conservation, contributed significantly to protect parrots in Central America. During a veterinary survey of two free-ranging populations of Scarlet macaw (Ara macao cyanoptera) in Guatemala (n=17) and Belize (n=13), and Yellow-headed amazon (Amazona oratrix belizensis) kept in a rescue centre in Belize (n=11), blood samples (n=41) were collected and analyzed to investigate the presence of haemoparasites. On blood samples, a PCR, targeting mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of Haemoproteus spp., Plasmodium spp., and Leucocytozoon spp., was performed. Positive samples were sequenced with Sanger sequencing. Three of 41 birds (7.32%) were found positive for haemoparasites. The presence of Haemoproteus (haplotype H304) was identified in one Scarlet macaw from Guatemala and one from Belize. DNA sequencing revealed a lineage reported in common krestel (Falco tinnunculus) in Iran (GenBank MG428420) and lesser krestel (Falco naumanni) in Transcaucasia (GeneBank KJ488858). One Scarlet macaw was found positive to Plasmodium (haplotype H294) in Belize, with a lineage reported in black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) and sombre tit (Poeclie lugubris) in Transcaucasia (GeneBank KJ488848) and in a penguin in Japan (GeneBank LC230049). No Leucocytozoon spp. was identified in these populations and no haemoparasite was identified in Yellow-head amazons fom Belize. These are the first data on the presence of haemoparasites in healthy Psittacine birds in Guatemal and Belize. Joint efforts of biologist, veterinarians and volunteers will increase the chances of survival of these endangered species.