Prevalence and Host Specificity of Haemosporidian Parasites in Eurasian Kestrels and Eurasian Buzzards in Northern Italy: Morphological and Molecular Analysis

We investigated the prevalence and host specificity of haemosporidian parasites in wild Eurasian Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and Eurasian Buzzards (Buteo buteo) admitted to a recovery facility in northern Italy. By combining morphological and molecular approaches, we analyzed 47 blood samples (37 kestrels and 10 buzzards) in 2021–2023. We documented a notable prevalence of haemosporidian parasites, specifically Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon. Of the 47 samples analyzed, 22 were positive for haemosporidian parasites, based on Giemsa-stained smears. The molecular procedure identified an additional four samples as positive, all of which had been previously classified as negative using the Giemsa-stained method, and allowed the analysis of three samples that had been excluded due to poor quality. In total, 27 birds (57%) tested positive for at least one haemosporidian: Haemoproteus brachiatus (22 samples, primarily from kestrels) or Leucocytozoon spp. (8 samples, all from buzzards). Three buzzards were infected with both genera. Haemoproteus brachiatus was detected in 48.6% of kestrels and 40% of buzzards. This study highlights the importance of combining morphological and molecular techniques to gain a comprehensive understanding of parasite prevalence among raptors admitted to a rehabilitation facility.