Blood parasites of two bee-eaters in Iraq

Abstract EN

Examination of 241 specimens of two bee-eater species, Merops apiaster and Merops superciliosus persicus reveal recording of Haemoproteus meropis (Zagar, 1945) emend.

Bennett, 1978 and H.

manwelli Bennett, 1978 for the first time in Iraq.

A new species Haemoproteus hudaidensis sp.

nov.

is described.

Microfilariae are also infected the two host species.

The results are discussed with the pertinent literature and the necessary comparision of morphometric measurements of the recorded parasites with that previously reported is provided along with a taxonomic key including the newly described haemoproteid