Avian malaria parasites (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae) in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Curonian Spit (South-East coast of the Baltic Sea)

In recent years, numerous studies have shown an increasing prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites in Europe. However, little is known about the vectors of these parasites, particularly specific dipterian species transmitting malaria parasites to birds. This study aims to identify vectors of avian malaria parasites on the South-East Baltic coast. Mosquito females were collected from 2020 to 2021 on the Curonian Spit of the Baltic Sea using traps with birds as bait. All insects were identified to the species level through morphological features and the PCR method. Subsequently, they were dissected to extract salivary glands for studying the presence of avian malaria infecting stages (the sporozoites). The remaining mosquito parts were used later for molecular analysis to detect haemosporidian parasite DNA. A total of 596 mosquitoes belonging to 8 species were collected. The analysis revealed that Culex pipiens is a competent vector of avian Plasmodium relictum (genetic lineages pGRW11 and pSGS1) and a potential vector for Plasmodium vaughani (genetic lineage pSYAT05) on the Curonian Spit of the Baltic Sea.