Seasonal dynamics in mosquito abundance and temperature do not influence avian malaria prevalence in the Himalayan foothills

We examined seasonal prevalence in avian haemosporidians (PlasmodiumandHaemoproteus) in migrant and resident birds in western Himalaya, India. We investigated how infection with haemosporidians in avian hosts is associated with temporal changes in temperature and mosquito abundance along with host abundance and life‐history traits (body mass). Using molecular methods for parasite detection and sequencing partial cytochromebgene, 12Plasmodiumand 27Haemoproteuslineages were isolated. Our 1‐year study from December 2008 to December 2009 in tropical Himalayan foothills revealed a lack of seasonal variation inPlasmodiumspp. prevalence in birds despite a strong correlation between mosquito abundance and temperature. The probability of infection withPlasmodiumdecreased with increase in temperature. Total parasite prevalence and specificallyPlasmodiumprevalence showed an increase with average avian body mass. In addition, total prevalence exhibited a U‐shaped relationship with avian host abundance. There was no difference in prevalence ofPlasmodiumspp. orHaemoproteusspp. across altitudes; parasite prevalence in high‐altitude locations was mainly driven by the seasonal migrants. OneHaemoproteuslineage showed cross‐species infections between migrant and resident birds. This is the first molecular study in the tropical Himalayan bird community that emphasizes the importance of studying seasonal variation in parasite prevalence. Our study provides a basis for further evolutionary study on the epidemiology of avian malaria and spread of disease across Himalayan bird communities, which may not have been exposed to vectors and parasites throughout the year, with consequential implications to the risk of infection to naïve resident birds in high altitude.