Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
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Risk Assessment for Avian Diseases in Pacific ParksPIERC Project Leader: Carter Atkinson, Ph.D. |
Objectives: Determine prevalence of avian pox and malaria in NPSA (FY01), HALE (FY02), KALA(FY03) and risks to avifauna Identify vectors, larval habitats, feasibility and scale for control |
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Accomplishments: Collected blood samples from over 300 forest birds on Tutuila, Ta’u, and Ofu-Olosega Islands in American Samoa Identified Plasmodium circumflexum(top, right) and Trypanosoma avium(bottom, right)on blood smears |
Significance: First identification of avian hematozoa from central Pacific High prevalence of chronic infections suggests that these parasites are endemic and not a threat to avifauna of NPSA |