Avian malaria in Europe: an emerging infectious disease?

Silvie Huijben; Willem Schaftenaar; Adriaan Wijsman; Krijn Paaijmans; Willem Takken

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Avian malaria in Europe: an emerging infectious disease?

In: Emerging pests and vector-borne diseases in Europe

Authors:

Silvie Huijben

Silvie Huijben
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Willem Schaftenaar

Willem Schaftenaar
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Adriaan Wijsman

Adriaan Wijsman
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Krijn Paaijmans

Krijn Paaijmans
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Willem Takken

Willem Takken
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 59–74

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086866267_006

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Dar Hadith al Hassania

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Emerging infectious diseases have had, and likely will have, a great impact on human and animal populations, and on biodiversity. Avian malaria is one such disease, which reached epidemic levels soon after its introduction in Hawaii and contributed to a massive decrease of avian biodiversity on the island group. Avian malaria is also a common infection amongst endemic and migratory birds in Europe, but appears to cause little harm among the native birds. However, frequent deaths of non-indigenous birds due to avian malaria are being reported. In this chapter, we consider whether avian malaria can reach epidemic proportions in Europe as an emerging infectious disease and as a result of climate change. In an ecological field study, we investigated the occurrence of avian malaria in Rotterdam zoo in the Netherlands during the summer of 2003. In a longitudinal approach mosquito dynamics were studied and a cross-sectional study was undertaken to estimate parasite prevalence in exotic birds kept in the zoo. Adult mosquitoes were caught throughout the study period and were examined for parasite infections. Of the 575 adult mosquitoes caught in traps, 61 percent was Culex pipiens pipiens. Six mosquitoes of this species were infected with malaria. Nine birds, belonging to eight different species, were infected with malaria, out of 81 birds that were examined. Twelve other birds died later that summer and were diagnosed with avian malaria, most of them being black-footed penguins. The peak in mortality occurred in the third week of August, two weeks after the peak in larval mosquito densities. It appeared that there is annual seasonal malaria transmission within Rotterdam zoo. We suggest that these infections result from a reservoir of parasites living within less susceptible exotic birds that are kept in the zoo and in endemic birds living within or near the zoo. These field data support our view that an outbreak of avian malaria among the endemic bird population of Europe is unlikely to happen under the current circumstances. Avian malaria is a common parasitic infection in the endemic and migratory bird populations, and after a long history of co-evolution, the parasites are causing what appears to be little harm. However, a change of climate or parasite mutational events could alter the equilibrium between parasite and host, potentially resulting in an epidemic. Frequent screening of the endemic and migratory bird populations should therefore be employed to prevent an outbreak such as happened in Hawaii.

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Emerging pests and vector-borne diseases in Europe

Series: Ecology and Control of Vector-borne Diseases, Volume: 1

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086866267

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 24 Oct 2007

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- Life Sciences

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Avian malaria in Europe: an emerging infectious disease?

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Emerging pests and vector-borne diseases in Europe

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