Wild Blackcaps (Ambelopoulia) Carry Blood Parasites, Lice

There are significant health risks for those who eat Blackcaps, also known as ambelopoulia. The first and obvious reason is that these wild birds are never checked by public health inspectors, or treated for any diseases they may be carrying, but there is even more to this than meets the eye.

Blackcaps are the specific species of wild, migrating birds that carry the parasitic protozoa Haemoproteus parabelopolskyi, which they catch because they are bitten by midges which live on them or land on them. This is proved in many research studies, including one done at Vilnius University. Haemoproteus parasites spread by the biting midges Culicoides impunctatus are the main cause of Avian Malaria, according to a study published by Javier Pérez-Tris et al.

So, here’s the big picture, every time a wild bird is trapped and served to the public (illegally) it is carrying a host of public health problems. The restaurants risk cross contamination from the parasites and midges landing on the surfaces they use to prepare other foods; the customers risk contamination from the same parasites and midges, and not least, by introducing the birds so close into the human environment (in normal cases they tend to stay on trees or bushes and avoid humans), there is a risk of the parasites and midges spreading to other bird populations like domesticated chickens, pigeons and so on.

What’s the proof that humans can catch diseases from wild Blackcaps served on a platter? There is a growing body of research showing that diseases can ‘jump’ from bird species to humans, either via biting insects like Culicoides impunctatus or from the bird’s feathers, skin and flesh. Several diseases have already spread into the human population from birds, Avian Flu, for example, and other diseases from biting insects like mosquitoes; malaria and West Nile Virus included.

One study shows how this disease ‘jump’ can happen. Biting midges in Germany were studied by the blood from their abdomens being examined for our old friend the Haemoproteus parasite (the one that is responsible for the spread of malaria). It was found that the midges had ingested human blood that carries the parasite; here’s the important part:

“Of which two (humans) were infected with avian Plasmodium and two with Haemoproteus [99% similar to Haemoproteus sp. lineage CCF2 from Fringilla coelebs and 100% similar to Haemoproteus parabelopolskyi haplotype SYAT02 from Sylvia atricapilla].” Note: Sylvia atricapilla is Latin for Blackcap.

Translated, that means that the biting midges so fond of Blackcaps also bite humans and can cross-infect them with parasites that cause deadly diseases.

Now you’d think that with the trade in wild birds being illegal, the Cyprus health services would have nothing to worry about, but you’d be wrong, my friend, if the academic research is anything to go by and the fact that a now ex-MP once came out in public to support the trapping and eating of these wild birds.

The apathetic response from the authorities - with the exception of the European Council which threatened to take Cyprus to the Court of Justice for flouting environmental laws - shows a basic lack of understanding about the real danger of eating wild birds like Blackcaps.

They migrate back and forth from countries in which there are sometimes health crises - Asia, Africa, and travel to Europe and Cyprus, where they are trapped in their millions for their troubles. These birds should be left alone to take their role in the ecosystem; eating insects, breeding and then migrating, all the while keeping a safe distance from humans.

Unless those who eat ambelopoulia understand that they are risking their health and the public’s health, this issue will not be in its proper perspective. Apologists for bird trapping base their disagreement with the laws on bird trapping on the dubious ‘tradition’ argument, which is not really a factual one - ask villagers who live in the mountains, they consider Swallows to be holy for example, and don’t treat ambelopoulia as a tradition. In any case, the health considerations cancel out any tradition that may have existed in Larnaca or Famagusta restaurants.

It’s the money that the trappers want, but as we all know, there’s no amount of money that can help if there’s an outbreak of a deadly disease. It would cost so much more than 70 Euros a kilo if someone got sick from a parasite passed on from a songbird.

And for those who argue that there’s no proof that anyone got sick from eating songbirds, well, I ask you, how do you know? How do we know if the doctors are not looking for these particular types of pathogens, and the labs don’t test for them? How long can a parasite stay in someone’s body before it weakens it enough to let in another type of disease?

Too many questions, and all are solved by one simple answer.

Don’t eat ambelopoulia or support this illegal trade.

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