Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41159674›Full record

ArticleIntegrative zoology2026

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon in Raptors and Other Captive Birds at the National Zoological Garden in South Africa.

Realeboga Masego Gaorekwe, Veronica Phetla, Dikeledi Petunia Malatji, Mamohale Chaisi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Integrative zoology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Morphological description and molecular characterization ofInternational journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Realeboga Masego GaorekweFoundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
Veronica PhetlaFoundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
Dikeledi Petunia MalatjiDepartment of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, South Africa.
Mamohale ChaisiFoundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2365-1039

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Avian haemosporidian infections have been associated with disease outbreaks in zoos and rehabilitation centers globally. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites in captive birds at the National Zoological Garden in South Africa. One hundred and eighty-three blood samples from five orders and 15 species of captive flamingos, vultures, owls, ibises and parrots were analyzed for haemosporidia by nested polymerase chain reaction assays. The samples were collected as part of the zoo's studbook and archived at South African National Biodiversity Institute's Wildlife Biobank. The overall infection rate was 36.1%, and infections by Leucocytozoon spp. (33.3%) were significantly higher than Haemoproteus spp. (14.8%) (p < 0.001). Twenty-one samples (11.5%) had mixed Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon infections. The Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus) and Barn Owl (Tyto alba) had the highest infection rates. Twenty-six sequences, similar to published sequences of Leucocytozoon spp. (lineages lCHRKLA02, lCIAE02, and lBUVIR02) and Haemoproteus spp. (lineage hTYTAL6) were obtained. Two new lineages (lBUBCAP01 and hBOSHAG02) are described in this study. This is the first molecular survey of haemosporidian parasites in captive birds of the orders Accipitriformes, Pelecaniformes, Psittaciformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Strigiformes in South Africa. This study provides new geographical and host records of known and novel haemosporidian lineages. It highlights the need for intensive surveys of these parasites in populations of captive and free-ranging birds in South Africa, regular monitoring of infections, updated screening methods, and insect control in the zoo's animal collection to avoid disease outbreaks.

Indexed as

Bird DiseasesGenetic VariationHaemosporidaProtozoan Infections, AnimalRaptorsAnimalsAnimals, ZooBirdsPhylogenyPrevalenceSouth Africaavian haemosporidiacaptive birdsHaemoproteus sppLeucocytozoon sppSouth Africa

Identifiers

PMID41159674
PMCPMC12794762

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.