Abstract

Background:
Hemoprotozoans belonging to the Plasmodium spp. are distributed worldwide, infecting various avian species, including both wild and domestic birds. Despite the risk of avian malaria, limited data underscore the need for a study on Plasmodium spp. in different avian species.

Aim:
The current study aimed to investigate avian malaria infection in domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and to genetically characterize the reported Plasmodium species.

Methods:
Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 100 turkeys from October 2024 to May 2025 in five counties of Sulaymaniyah province, northern Iraq. Giemsa-stained blood smears were prepared and examined microscopically to detect haemoparasite stages, followed by conventional PCR targeting the cyt b1 gene to detect Plasmodium spp. The genetic characterization of the detected Plasmodium pathogen was based on sequencing of selected positive isolates and phylogenetic analysis.

Results:
The combined results of both analysis techniques indicated an overall avian malaria infection rate of 28% among the examined turkeys, with 95% CI [19.2%-36.8%]. Sequence analysis of the current isolates confirms that the reported malarial pathogen was Plasmodium gallinaceum. The phylogenetic analysis places the current Plasmodium gallinaceum isolates from domestic turkeys within the same lineage of previously detected Plasmodium isolates in the GenBank database.

Conclusion:
The study was the first attempt to detect avian malaria among the domestic turkey population in the study area, and the data represented a higher infection rate. Attention should be directed toward the significant effects of Plasmodium infection on poultry husbandry, which might be capable of inflicting substantial economic consequences.

Key words: Avian malaria; Plasmodium; Phylogeny; Turkey; Sulaymaniyah.