Effects of the blood parasite Leucocytozoon simondi on growth rates of anatid ducklings

The blood parasite Leucocytozoon simondi is often associated with heavy mortality of ducks and geese, especially domestic ones, in North America. In contrast, in a previous study we found no mortality from L. simondi in our wild stock of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and American black duck (Anas rubripes) ducklings. However, because parasites can slow growth, which could extend the interval during which ducklings are susceptible to predators, we tested for parasite effects on growth rates. We analysed growth rates over the first 20 days of life, based on tarsus length, culmen, bill width, body mass, and a principal component of structural size. Growth rates of infected ducklings were not lower than those of uninfected ducklings. Similarly, more intense infections did not have a greater effect on growth rates. Hence, growth rates were not negatively affected by L. simondi, which suggests that effects of this parasite on wild duck populations have been overestimated.