Standardization and diagnosis of avian malaria using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in hummingbirds: a pilot assay

Malaria is a tropical infectious disease that affects different species of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Avian malaria is caused by protozoans of the genus Plasmodium and Hemoproteus that can affect the reproduction and lifespan of birds. It can be detected through different diagnostics methods, such as optical microscopic examination of blood smears, serological and molecular methods. Molecular methods such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are used for the diagnosis of malaria because they have provided more specificity, reliability, and sensitivity. Once optimized, this large-scale technique is cheaper, faster, and more reliable compared to other techniques. In this study, the method that was used is PCR since this technique has been designed to improve sensitivity and specificity. Initially, a sample standardization procedure was executed to establish the optimal parameters and reagents to be used in the PCR procedure (Abad et al., 2021). The main objective of this trial was the standardization and diagnosis of avian malaria in Hummingbirds. In this work, 15 blood samples of hummingbirds from the tropical humid forest of the Mindo sector located in the province of Pichincha were be examined. Finally, the results obtained from the study of the PCR test compared with the data from a previous study, in which a microscopic examination of blood smears was performed with the same individuals. In summary the PCR technique presented less sensitivity that optical microscopy diagnosis.

• Main Author: Godoy Rivera, Cristina Lizeth (author)
• Format: bachelorThesis
• Language: eng
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Malaria aviar; Plasmodium; Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR); Avian malaria
• Online Access: http://repositorio.yachaytech.edu.ec/handle/123456789/669