Haemoproteus in barn and collared scops owls from Thailand.

The barn owl (BO) and collared scops owl (CSO) are nocturnal raptors commonly found throughout Thailand. Little is known about the hemoparasites found in these 2 species of owls in Thailand. Blood samples from 23 adult BOs and 14 CSOs were collected and processed for complete blood cell counts and parasite morphological examinations. Two Haemoproteus-positive samples were processed for ultrastructural observations. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for a partial cytochrome b gene (cytb) from Haemoproteus was performed in all samples. Haemoproteus infections detected by light microscopy were fewer than those detected by PCR analysis (30.4% and 34.8% in BO, respectively; and 50.0% and 78.6% in CSO, respectively). Comparative hematology revealed that Haemoproteus-positive BOs had higher mean cell hemoglobin concentration, total leukocytes, absolute heterophil, basophil, and monocyte counts than -negative BOs, but there was no significant difference between Haemoproteus-negative and -positive CSOs. Monocyte ultrastructure revealed a role in the elimination of gametocytes. According to morphology, the Haemoproteus in 3 BOs and 6 CSOs were identified as H. noctuae and in 1 CSO was identified as H. syrnii. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Haemoproteus spp. in 8 BOs and 7 CSOs was not closely related to H. noctuae or H. syrnii, and that the cytb of 2 CSOs was H. syrnii. These results provide basic data that may be useful for further study of Haemopeoteus in these 2 species of owls.