First Evidence and Predictions of <em>Plasmodium</em> Transmission in Alaskan Bird Populations

<div><p>The unprecedented rate of change in the Arctic climate is expected to have major impacts on the emergence of infectious diseases and host susceptibility to these diseases. It is predicted that malaria parasites will spread to both higher altitudes and latitudes with global warming. Here we show for the first time that avian <em>Plasmodium</em> transmission occurs in the North American Arctic. Over a latitudinal gradient in Alaska, from 61°N to 67°N, we collected blood samples of resident and migratory bird species. We found both residents and hatch year birds infected with <em>Plasmodium</em> as far north as 64°N, providing clear evidence that malaria transmission occurs in these climates. Based on our empirical data, we make the first projections of the habitat suitability for <em>Plasmodium</em> under a future-warming scenario in Alaska. These findings raise new concerns about the spread of malaria to naïve host populations.</p> </div

GPS coordinates, altitude, number of infected resident birds (<i>N</i> infected/<i>N</i> total), numbers of migratory hatch year (HY) and after hatch year (AHY) individuals infected with <i>Plasmodium</i> spp. are given by location.

<p>Residents and hatch year migratory birds were infected by one lineage <i>Plasmodium</i> P43 whereas after hatch year migratory birds were infected by six lineages of <i>Plasmodium</i> spp (see Supporting Information).</p

Predictive map of suitable conditions of current and future <i>Plasmodium</i> transmission in Alaska with location of sampling sites in each of the three latitudes: Anchorage, Fairbanks and Coldfoot.

<p>Map created in ArcMap 10 (Environmental Systems Resource Institute, ArcMap 10.0 ESRI, Redlands, California).</p