Blood parasites of some jamaican birds

The prevalence of avian hematozoa in 1791 birds of 80 species and 22 families from Jamaica was determined. Species of Haemoproteus were the most common hematozoan encountered. Species of Leucocytozoa were diagnosed on in three over-wintering North American migrants and the genus was absent in native Jamaican birds. The low prevalence of infection (7.4%) of blood parasites in Jamaican birds was closely similar to that seen in Neotropical birds and far below that noted for the Nearctic avifauna of the same families. Prevalence in adult and young birds was virtually identical; transmissions occurred primarily during the period February - April.