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Background  Avian malaria parasites ( Plasmodium  spp.) and other Haemosporida ( Haemoproteus  and  Leucocytozoon  spp.) form a diverse group of vector-transmitted blood parasites that are abundant in many bird families. Recent studies have suggested that corvids may be an important host for  Plasmodium  spp. and  Leucocytozoon  spp.    Methods  To investigate the diversity of Haemosporida of resident carrion crows ( Corvus corone ) and Eurasian Magpies ( Pica pica ) in southwest Germany, 100 liver samples of corvids were examined using a nested PCR method to amplify a 1063 bp fragment of the haemosporidian mitochondrial cytochrome  b  gene. The phylogenetic relationship of parasite lineages obtained from these birds was inferred.    Results  Haemosporidian DNA was detected in 85 carrion crows (89.5%) and in all five Eurasian Magpies. The most abundant parasite genus was  Leucocytozoon  with a prevalence of 85.3% (n = 95). 65.3% of the samples (n = 62) contained multiple infections. Thirteen haemosporidian lineages were isolated from the corvid samples. Female carrion crows were more likely infected with haemosporidian parasites than males.    Discussion  This study provides the first insight into the diversity of haemosporidian parasites of corvids in Germany. Very high prevalences were found and based on the applied diagnostic method also a high amount of multiple infections could be detected. Due to the high diversity of haemosporidian parasites found in corvids, they seem to be excellent model organisms to test species deliminations in haemosporidian parasites.

Carrion crows (Corvus corone) of southwest Germany: important hosts for haemosporidian parasites