Haemosporidian Blood Parasites Diversity and Prevalence in the Vietnamese Greenfinch (Chloris monguilloti), with Special Reference to the cyt b Lineage hCARCHL01 (H147)

Greenfinches of the genus Chloris (family Fringillidae) comprise five species. The European greenfinch (C. chloris) is widespread across the Western Palearctic, while the remaining species are restricted to Asia. In this study, we analyzed the prevalence and molecular diversity of haemosporidian blood parasites in the Vietnamese greenfinch (C. monguilloti). Specifically, we asked whether the blood parasites found in this species are similar to, or distinct from, those infecting the European greenfinch—an allopatric congener inhabiting a different zoogeographic region. A total of 32 Vietnamese greenfinches were captured in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Vietnam. The overall prevalence of haemosporidian parasites was 65.6% (21 out of 32 individuals). The cyt b lineage hCARCHL01 (H147) was the most prevalent, occurring in 56.2% of the samples (18 out of 32). In addition, a novel cyt b lineage, lCHLMON01, was detected in three individuals. The hCARCHL01 lineage was previously recorded in Europe, though in fewer than two dozen samples from goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis), European greenfinches, serins (Serinus serinus), and robins (Erithacus rubecula). Currently, the known ranges of these European avian hosts do not overlap with that of the Vietnamese greenfinch. We propose three possible scenarios to explain how the hCARCHL01 lineage may have been transmitted between the Vietnamese and European greenfinches.