Abstract
The incidence and occurrence of haematozoa (Haemoproteus sp.) was assessed from 98 blood slide samples from 70 individual of wild or captive Blakiston's Owls (Ketupa blakistoni) collected in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1994 to 1999. The samples derived from 7 individuals were positive for protozoa. Ages of positive host individuals were 2 months (1 wild), 7 months (1 wild) and over 12 months (5 wild). From the breeding season of the avian species, it is possible that infection of the young occurs in the nest. Because Haemoproteus sp. is occasionally pathogenic in avian young, the present result needs to be noted from conservation and clinical viewpoints. Further, as host-specificity of haematozoa is relatively low among several avian species, a more detail epidemiological survey that includes other owl species in Hokkaido will be needed.
