Prevalence Differs by Sex in Louisiana Wild Turkeys ().

Abstract

Eastern wild turkeys () in Louisiana have not fully recovered since their decline in the mid-20th century, despite multiple conservation management efforts. Wild turkeys are susceptible toinfection and also serve as reservoirs ofparasites. In this study, we tested for Haemosporidian infections (,, and) in 106 different blood samples collected from hunted and live-trapped turkeys in Louisiana using PCR and sequencing of amplicons.was the most prevalent genus (92%) and had the highest species diversity among the three genera. One-third of our samples were positive forinfection, significantly less thanbut similar to. Male turkeys were more likely to be infected byparasites than females. We detected twospecies,and, 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 toinfectionFuture research into the pathology ofinfections will clarify whetherparasites may contribute to population declines in turkeys through mortality or negative reproduction impacts, and whether one sex is more tolerant toinfection than the other.