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Background  Blood-sucking flying insects play a key role in the transmission of pathogens of vector-borne diseases. However, at least for the case of avian malaria parasites, the vast majority of studies focus on the interaction between parasites and vertebrate hosts, but there is a lack of information regarding the interaction between the parasites and the insect vectors. Here, we identified the presence of malaria and malaria-like parasite lineages harbored by the potential vector  Culicoides circumscriptus  (Kieffer). Also, we identified some nodes of the transmission network connecting parasite lineages, potential insect vectors and avian hosts by comparing  Haemoproteus  and  Plasmodium  lineages isolated from insects with those infecting wild birds in this and previous studies.    Methods  Using a molecular approach, we analysed the presence of blood parasites in a total of 97 biting midges trapped in the Doñana National Park (SW Spain) and surrounding areas. Also, 123 blood samples from 11 bird species were analyzed for the presence of blood parasite infections. Blood parasites  Haemoproteus  and  Plasmodium  were identified by amplification of a 478 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome  b  gen.    Results  Thirteen biting midges harboured blood parasites including six  Haemoproteus  and two  Plasmodium  lineages, supporting the potential role of these insects on parasite transmission. Moreover, ten (8.1%) birds carried blood parasites. Seven  Plasmodium  and one  Haemoproteus  lineages were isolated from birds. Overall, six new  Haemoproteus  lineages were described in this study. Also, we identified the transmission networks of some blood parasites. Two  Haemoproteus  lineages, hCIRCUM03 and GAGLA03, were identical to those isolated from  Corvus monedula  in southern Spain and  Garrulus glandarius  in Bulgaria, respectively. Furthermore, the new  Haemoproteus  lineage hCIRCUM05 showed a 99% similarity with a lineage found infecting captive penguins in Japan.    Conclusions  The comparison of the parasite lineages isolated in this study with those previously found infecting birds allowed us to identify some potential nodes in the transmission network of avian blood parasite lineages. These results highlight the complexity of the transmission networks of blood parasites in the wild that may involve a high diversity of susceptible birds and insect vectors.

parasites and vectors

On the study of the transmission networks of blood parasites from SW Spain: diversity of avian haemosporidians in the biting midge Culicoides circumscriptus and wild birds