{"id":18458,"date":"2026-06-20T13:05:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T13:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/iita-and-spanish-ecologists-advance-understanding-of-avian-diseases-in-afrotropical-urban-and-non-urban-habitats\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:45:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:45:44","slug":"iita-and-spanish-ecologists-advance-understanding-of-avian-diseases-in-afrotropical-urban-and-non-urban-habitats","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/iita-and-spanish-ecologists-advance-understanding-of-avian-diseases-in-afrotropical-urban-and-non-urban-habitats\/","title":{"rendered":"IITA and Spanish ecologists advance understanding of avian diseases in Afrotropical urban and non-urban habitats"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dr<\/a>
Dr Adewale Awoyemi collecting a blood sample from the brachial vein of a calm Simple Leaflove (Chlorocichla simplex) in Ado-Ekiti on 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nA new \u00e9tudier<\/a>, led by four scientists from Nigeria and Spain, is shedding light on how rapid urbanization in Africa is reshaping wildlife health, particularly among bird communities. The research\u2014conducted by Dr Adewale Awoyemi, IITA<\/a> Forest Center Manager, and colleagues from the University of Granada, Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n en Recursos Cineg\u00e9ticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Spain, and A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, Nigeria\u2014provides detailed assessments of avian haemosporidian<\/em> parasites across urban and non-urban landscapes in southern Nigeria.\n\nHaemosporidians<\/em> are a diverse group of blood parasites, including Plasmodium, Haemoproteus<\/em>, et Leucocytozoon<\/em>, that affect bird species globally. Yet, knowledge of their distribution and impact in the Afrotropics has remained limited, especially in fast-growing urban environments. Recognizing this gap, the research team screened 95 birds representing 31 different species across three sites in southwest Nigeria (Ado, Ibadan, and Lagos) to compare infection patterns between urban and non-urban areas, during both dry and wet seasons.\n\n
\"Pie<\/a>
Pie charts showing the geographic (A) and avian host (B) distribution of Haemoproteus lineages found in birds sampled in the study. The asterisks show the birds examined in the study. The number of infected birds from the study is displayed near each pie chart.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nLe findings<\/a> reveal a complex and dynamic picture of host\u2013parasite interactions in the region. Overall, 36.8% of sampled birds tested positive for haemosporidian<\/em> infection. Notably, Haemoproteus<\/em> infections were significantly more common in urban birds, with all detected Haemoproteus<\/em> lineages occurring exclusively in urban habitats. In contrast, most Plasmodium lineages\u2014responsible for avian malaria\u2014were found only in non-urban environments, while Leucocytozoon<\/em> infections showed no major differences between habitat types.\n\nBeyond highlighting habitat-related differences, the study expands scientific knowledge of parasite diversity in the Afrotropics. The researchers recorded two lineages\u2014hPYNJOC1 (Haemoproteus) and pLUME2 (Plasmodium)\u2014for the first time in the region. They also added new host species (Common Bulbul, Village Weaver, African Thrush, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, and Green Hylia) for more Haemoproteus and Plasmodium lineages, significantly enriching global databases used to understand the ecology and evolution of avian diseases.\n\nThese discoveries come at a crucial moment. Africa is urbanizing at one of the fastest rates in the world, transforming habitats and altering ecological interactions that underpin biodiversity. The study underscores how human-driven landscape changes can reshape patterns of disease transmission in wildlife\u2014sometimes in unexpected ways. As cities expand, exposure to certain parasites may increase for some bird species while others become less common, with potential implications for conservation, ecosystem health, and urban planning.\n\nThe authors emphasize the need for continued research and surveillance, especially since haemosporidian parasites exhibit a wide range of effects, from benign infections to severe illness and population decline. Understanding how these parasites respond to environmental change is critical for managing risks to both wildlife and, indirectly, human populations.\n\nThe study highlights IITA\u2019s growing contribution to biodiversity and urban ecology research in Nigeria. It also strengthens the role of the IITA Forest Center as a hub for cutting-edge ecological studies informing conservation and sustainable development across Africa.\n\nLink to paper:\u00a0https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.avrs.2025.100330<\/a>\n\n\u00c0 propos du Centre Forestier de l'IITA<\/strong>\n\nIITA Forest Center manages and utilizes forest resources for conservation, research, and education. The 350 hectares of Forest Reserve within the IITA-Ibadan\u2019s 1000-hectare land support biodiversity and diverse habitats. IITA Forest is a haven for birds and is designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. The IITA Forest Center has recorded remarkable successes in the propagation and conservation of over 100 native tree species in the Tree Heritage Park, with approximately half these species already listed as Red-Listed by the IUCN. In January 2022, the THP was awarded a Level II Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. The IITA Forest supports over 450 plant species, 272 birds, 236 butterflies, 48 mammals, and 28 reptiles.\n\nContributed by Folake Oduntan<\/em>\n\n
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