Leucocytozoon Prevalence Differs by Sex in Louisiana Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo)

Eastern wild turkeys (<i>Meleagris gallapovo silvestris</i>) in Louisiana have not fully recovered since their decline in the mid-20th century, despite multiple conservation management efforts. Wild turkeys are susceptible to <i>Leucocytozoon</i> infection and also serve as reservoirs of <i>Leucocytozoon</i> parasites. In this study, we tested for Haemosporidian infections (<i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Plasmodium</i>, and <i>Leucocytozoon</i>) in 106 different blood samples collected from hunted and live-trapped turkeys in Louisiana using PCR and sequencing of amplicons. <i>Haemoproteus</i> was the most prevalent genus (92%) and had the highest species diversity among the three genera. One-third of our samples were positive for <i>Leucocytozoon</i> infection, significantly less than <i>Haemoproteus</i> but similar to <i>Plasmodium</i>. Male turkeys were more likely to be infected by <i>Leucocytozoon</i> parasites than females. We detected two <i>Leucocytozoon</i> species, <i>Leucocytozoon schoutedeni</i> and <i>Leucocytozoon sabrazesi</i>, the latter possibly being the first detection in North America. There were four times as many turkeys infected with all three genera of Haemosporidia than uninfected turkeys. Last, we present a case study of an emaciated wild turkey in Louisiana; its death was attributed to <i>Leucocytozoon</i> infection<i>.</i> Future research into the pathology of <i>Leucocytozoon</i> infections will clarify whether <i>Leucocytozoon</i> parasites may contribute to population declines in turkeys through mortality or negative reproduction impacts, and whether one sex is more tolerant to <i>Leucocytozoon</i> infection than the other.