Multiple mosquito species are potential competent vectors of avian malaria in the UK

Avian Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa) are common parasites of birds that are highly prevalent around the globe. Despite their broad impacts on avian hosts, remarkably little is known about their transmission ecology, including the identity of competent vector species. Both Plasmodium and Haemoproteus are known to detrimentally impact mosquito survival but have generally been neglected in the consideration of mosquito ecology in the UK. Here, I sampled mosquitoes across 4 sites in Lincolnshire, east England, across 2 summers (April – July inclusive). 1026 mosquitoes were caught across 2 years, comprising 12 species, identified morphologically and confirmed genetically. Nine species (21 individuals; 5·8%; n = 363) had haemoparasite DNA in their salivary glands, with 2 lineages of Plasmodium , 3 of Haemoproteus and 1 of Leucocytozoon returning high-quality sequence. Ochlerotatus detritus is reported for the first time as a potential vector of Plasmodium vaughani (SYAT05), and Ochlerotatus annulipes and Anopheles messeae are reported for the first time as potential vectors of avian Plasmodium sp. (lineage LK06). Avian haemosporidians are diverse and widespread in UK birds and mosquitoes, and should be more widely considered in mosquito ecology in order to understand their complex transmission dynamics.