Description:
<p>Peripheral blood films from 76 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from eastern West Virginia were examined for parasites. Leucocytozoon smithi was found in 100 percent of the films from adults and 77 percent of those from immature birds. Haemoproteus meleagridis was present in 53 percent of the adults and 47 percent of the immatures. A single trypanosome organism was found in the blood of one adult bird. No plasmodia or microfilariae were observed. Wild turkey populations increased markedly during the study period, but the turkey's high biotic potential could result in such increases despite substantial losses.</p>