A total of 315 birds representing 75 species (23 families) from
Villavicencio and San Miguel (Meta, Colombia) were examined for
haematozoa. Fifty birds (15.9%) harbored blood parasites. Microfilariae
were the most common haematozoans encountered, followed by species of
the genera Haemoproteus , Plasmodium and Trypanosoma
. This survey included 15 new host-parasite records and 8
species of birds that were examined for haematozoa for the first time.
The prevalence registered in this research was similar to others
recorded in the Neotropical region, but in sharp contrast with the
prevalence of blood parasites in other major land masses