Haemoparasite Infection Risk in Multi-host Avian System: an Integrated Analysis

Avian blood parasites play a crucial role in wildlife health and ecosystem dynamics, exhibiting heterogeneous spatial distribution influenced by various factors. Although factors underlying heterogeneity in infection with blood parasites have been explored in many avian hosts, their importance in the context of host species and the parasite taxon remains poorly understood, particularly in cohabiting host species. Using next-generation sequencing for parasite screening, we investigate the association between , and infections in relation to individual parameters, host densities and landscape features in 3 cavity-nesting passerines: great tit (), blue tit () and collared flycatcher () in a highly fragmented forest habitat. Overall, infections predominated, followed by and , with great tits most and collared flycatchers least parasitized. There were no common patterns across host species in the probability of infection with locally transmitted parasites from each genus. Specifically, in all cases, the effect of particular parameters, if present, was observed only in 1 host species. Body condition influenced and infections differently in tits. Host density, whether own species or all pooled, explained infections in great tits and collared flycatchers, and in great tits. Landscape metrics, such as moisture index and distance to coast edge and pastures, affected infection probability in specific host–parasite combinations. Relative risk maps revealed infection risk gradients, but spatial variation repeatability over time was low. Our study highlights the complex dynamics of avian blood parasites in multi-host systems, shedding light on host–parasite interactions in natural ecosystems.