doc. Mgr. Milena Svobodová, Dr.

We study vector-parasite-host interactions in bird populations.

The particular aims are:

* Identification of blood parasites, their prevalences and modes of transmission

* Seasonal dynamics of ornithophilic Diptera

* Trypanosome host specificity, life cycles in the vectors and experimental transmission

* Biodiversity of avian trypanosomes and haemosporidia

We have a collection of 450 strains of avian trypanosomes isolated from passerines, 200 from raptors, and 150 from bloodsucking vectors; and blood collected from 10000 individuals of 50 passerine species.
In an ongoing project, we compare the information obtained from bloodmeal barcoding and parasite lineages present in the vectors to assess host preferences of bloodsucking insects.