Midway Atoll survey of avian malaria prevalence in passerines 2023

Non-native passerines, common canary (Serinus canaria; n=24) and the common myna (Acridotheres tristis; n=19), were captured by US Fish and Wildlife Service Biologists on Sand Island, Midway Atoll, and had a blood sample taken to test for avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) infection. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of avian malaria DNA using a Realtime PCR (qPCR) assay. No evidence of avian malaria was found in any of the bird samples.