Low nuclear genetic variation in a globally widespread avian malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum
Abstract Plasmodium relictum is a generalist avian malaria parasite found to infect approximately 400 species of bird on every continent except Antarctica. The two P. relictum isolates studied, SGS1 and GRW4, have been found in 55 species of passeriform bird. A parasite with a broad geographic range combined with lack of vector- and host-specificity is likely to contain multiple genetic variants.