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Variation in pathogen load and the pathogen load-infectiousness relationship broaden avian malaria's distribution
Christa M Seidl1,2, Katy L Parise3, Isaiah J Ipsaro4
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA. seidlcm@gmail.com.
Nature Communications
|February 10, 2026
Summary
Host infectiousness, influenced by pathogen load and variability, impacts disease spread. Understanding these factors is crucial for predicting pathogen transmission and distribution in wildlife populations.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Epidemiology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Host infectiousness is critical for pathogen transmission but often understudied.
- Key factors include pathogen load and within-species variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- Quantify the relationship between avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) parasite load and infectiousness to mosquitoes.
- Estimate infectiousness across diverse bird species and communities in Hawai'i.
- Determine the role of infection stage in transmission.
Main Methods:
- Experimental infections of canaries (Serinus canaria) with Plasmodium relictum.
- Quantified infectiousness to Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes.
- Estimated host species infectiousness and transmission contributions in Hawaiian bird communities.
Main Results:
- Mosquito infectiousness increased with parasite load, temperature, and time since feeding.
- Gradual slope of infectiousness vs. parasite load meant many hosts were partially infectious.
- High within-species variability in parasite load led to overlapping infectiousness among hosts.
Conclusions:
- Pathogen load-infectiousness relationship shape and within-species variability significantly influence host range and transmission.
- These factors likely explain the widespread distribution of avian malaria in Hawai'i.
- Findings emphasize the importance of considering host-pathogen dynamics for disease ecology.
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