avian malaria

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Science & Tech

avian malaria

bird disease

Also known as: bird malaria

Written by Kara Rogers

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Aedes mosquito

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Category: Science & Tech

Also called:: bird malaria

Related Topics:: bird; parasitic disease; Aedes; Plasmodium; Culex

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avian malaria, infectious disease of birds that is known particularly for its devastation of native bird populations on the Hawaiian Islands. It is similar to human malaria in that it is caused by single-celled protozoans of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. (Haemoproteus protozoans are sometimes also considered to be causative agents of avian malaria.) However, whereas only Anopheles mosquitoes transmit the human disease, avian malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes of several genera, including Culex and Aedes. Avian malaria affects a wide range of birds globally, including ducks, falcons, pigeons, and penguins. However, perching ...(100 of 987 words)

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