Aims.

The goal of the current study was to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium in the population of Phoenicopterus ruber kept under human care at Zoofari Conservation Center, Morelos, Mexico

Settings and Design.

Avian malaria vectors belonging to the family Culicidae has been reported at different Mexican States. Malaria infections compromise different host ranges including Phoenicopteriformes (Phoeniconaias minor, Phoenicopterus chilensis). The singled population housed in Zoofari, Conservation Center may harbor subclinical malaria (Plasmodium) infections.

Methods and Material

A descriptive crosssectional study in a singled population of American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber). We compared and contrasted two diagnostic techniques, microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for avian haemosporidia. In this study 80 blood smears stained in a Romanowsky stain were examined by microscopy, also molecular analysis were conducted, PCR was performed with the use of primers that amplifies parasite mtDNA from species of Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon.

Results.

A total of 80 Phoenicopterus ruber birds were examined for malarial parasites using both microscopy and PCR diagnostic methods, none of them were positives.

Conclusions.

Our study corresponds to the first of its kind in the region. After implementing two different diagnostic methods for avian malaria, no evidence was obtained of the presence of hemoparasites in the Phoenicopterus ruber population. This type of research allows us to understand the dynamics and identify emerging diseases that can affect animals and man in a certain geographic region.

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