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Dimitar Dimitrov

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Personal information

Contacts

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2 Yurii Gagarin Street,
1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
e-mail: ddmitko@gmail.com
e-mail: Dimitar.Dimitrov@iber.bas.bg
Phone: +359-2-871 71 95 (105)
Scopus profile: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191773060
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.bg/citations?hl=bg&view_op=list_works&gmla=AJsN-F...
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5961-247X

Curriculum vitae

Date and place of birth: 13 March 1981 Shumen, Bulgaria

Degree:

2011: PhD in Ecology in Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Thesis title: Morphological and molecular analyses of bird haemosporidian parasites and investigation on their specificity and pathogenicity.
Supervisor: Prof. Golemansky V.
Adviser: Dr. Zehtindjiev P.

2006: MSc in Ecology in Shumen University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Dept. of Functional Ecology, Bulgaria
Thesis title: Quantiative characterization of spring and autumn migration of soaring birds in north-east Bulgaria.
Supervisor: Dr. Zehtindjiev P.

Employment History:

2020-present: Associate Professor, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences /Biological station “Kalimok”/

2015-2019: Chief assistant, Biological station “Kalimok”, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

2013-2015: Postdoctoral Fellow at Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania

2010: Research Fellow, Biological station “Kalimok”, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

2007: PhD student, Institute of Zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
/Biological station “Kalimok”/

2006: Biologist, Biological station “Kalimok”, Institute of Zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Research Visits:

Oct - Nov 2006: Ringing Station of Volturno Plain near Caserta, Italy Dr Sergio Sceebba
Aug - Sep 2007: Field Station of Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Saratov, Russia Dr Olga Oparina and Dr Mihail Oparin
Jan – Feb 2009: Lund University, Ecology building, Lund, Sweden Prof. Staffan Bensch
Nov – Dec 2009: Lund University, Ecology building, Lund, Sweden Prof. Staffan Bensch
Nov – Dec 2011: Lund University, Ecology building, Lund, Sweden Prof. Staffan Bensch
Jan – Feb 2012: Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania Prof. Gediminas Valkiunas

Participation in scientific meetings

Dimitar Dimitrov, Martin Marinov, Aneliya Bobeva, Mihaela Ilieva, Kiril Bedev, Teodor Atanasov, Pavel Zehtindjiev. Influence of avian malaria and other haemosporidian parasites (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) on leucocyte profile of rosy starlings (Pastor roseus). 12th European Ornithologists' Union Congress 2019, August 2019, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Poster

Dimitar Dimitrov, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Научен семинар"Маларийни и сродни хемоспоридии (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) по птиците в района на езерото Дуранкулак – перспективи за прилагане на паразитологичните изследвания в консервационната биология". Юли 2017, София, Доклад

Dimitar Dimitrov, Steffen Hahn, Karina Ivanova, Tamara Emmenegger, Martin P. Marinov, Strahil Peev, Pavel Zehtindjiev. Single sampling underestimate haemosporidian’ prevalence: an experimental study of natural relapses. 27-29, September 2016, 3rd International Conference - Malaria and Related Haemosporidian Parasites of Wildlife. Oral presentation

Karina Ivanova, Boyko B. Georgiev, Jean Mariaux, Dimitar Dimitrov, Luka Jurinovic, Pavel Zehtindjiev. Diversity of avian haemosporidians of poorly studied regions and scarcely examined bird species. 24-28, August 2015, European Ornithologists' Union. Poster presentation

Dimitrov, D., Zehtindjiev, P., Bobeva, A., Ilieva M., Bensch S. and Valkiunas G. Molecular and morphological diagnostics of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites, with remarks on the parasite detrimental effects. 18–24, August 2014, Tokyo, Japan. 26th International Ornithological Congress. Poster presentation

Dimitrov, D., Zehtindjiev, P., Bensch S. and Valkiunas G. Challenges and directions for developments of barcoding of haemosporidian (Haemosporida) parasites. 10 – 13, September 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5th Conference of the Scandinavian-Baltic Society for Parasitology. poster

Dimitrov, D., Zehtindjiev, P. and Valkiūnas G. Molecular characterization of haemosporidian parasites of birds: challenges, directions and importance. 18 – 21, September 2013, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. IX National Conference of Parasitology with International Participation. presentation

Bobeva, A., Dimitrov, D., Marinov, M., Ilieva, M., Zehtindjiev, P. and Bensch S. A survey of vectors of Haemoproteus, with respect to their host preferences and transmission of avian haemosporidians. 18 – 21, September 2013, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. IX National Conference of Parasitology with International Participation. presentation

D. Dimitrov, M. Ilieva, A. Bobeva, S. Bensch, M. Marinov, S. Hahn & P. Zehtindjiev. The real prevalence of haemosporidian (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) parasites in the Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis): What we can estimate? Malaria and Related Haemosporidian Parasites of Wildlife, 7 - 11 August 2013, Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania.

P. Zehtindjiev, M. Ilieva, D. Dimitrov, A. Bobeva, M. Marinov, S. Hahn, V. Amrhein, A. Križanauskienė, F. Liechti & S. Bensch. Transmission regions of haemosporidian parasites of three common nightingale populations with different wintering grounds in Africa. Malaria and Related Haemosporidian Parasites of Wildlife, 7 - 11 August 2013, Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Vasilev V., Raykov I., Raykova V., Dimitrov D. New data on the distribution of Snad lizard (Lacerta agilis Linnaeus, 1758) in South Dobrudja, Bulgaria. The Third Annual Zoological Congress of “Grigore Antipa” Museum, 23-25 November 2011, Bucharest, Romania.

Dimitrov D., Zehtindjiev P., Ilieva M., Bensch S. Bird malaria and related haemosporidian parasites at Kalimok wetland area. International Conference Wetlands: Functioning, Management and Restoration 16-19 October 2011, Varna, Bulgaria.

Zehtindjev P., Hahn S., Amrhein V., Ilieva M., Dimitrov D., Križanauskiene A., Bobeva A., Marinov M., Bensch S., Connectivity of Bulgarian wetlands: outcomes from bird malaria research and high technology in bird migration studies. International Conference Wetlands: Functioning, Management and Restoration, 16-19 October 2011, Varna, Bulgaria.

Ilieva, M., Bensch, S., Oparina, O., Oparin, M., Hansson, B., Åkesson, S., Dimitrov, D., Križanauskiene, A., Zehtindjiev, P. Range expansion of paddyfield warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) in wetlands along the black sea coast: population differences in genetics, parasite diversity and behaviuor. International Conference, Wetlands: Functioning, Management and Restoration, 16-19 October 2011, Varna, Bulgaria.

Bobeva A., Dimitrov D., Marinov M., Ilieva M., Zehtindjev P., Bensch S., Association of vectors and bird malaria in wetland territories of Bulgaria: preliminary results. International Conference Wetlands: Functioning, Management and Restoration, 16-19 October 2011, Varna, Bulgaria.

Marinov M., Zehtindjiev P., Dimitrov D., Ilieva M., Marchetti C. Bird behaviour and malaria: hy-potheses, preliminary results and possible consequences for wetland biodiversity. International Conference Wetlands: Functioning, Management and Restoration, 16-19 October 2011, Albena Resort, Varna, Bulgaria.

Hahn S., Dimitrov D., Zehtindjiev P. Zugmuster und Überwinterungsgebiete von Weidensperlingen mit unterschiedlichem Malaria-Parasitierungsgrad. 144. Jahresversammlung der DO-G, 29. September – 4. Oktober 2011, Universität Potsdam, Germany.

Dimitrov, D., Ilieva, M., Hahn, S., Zehtindjiev, P. Spanish sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) in NE Bulgaria: morphometrics and capturing periods. 8th Conference of the European Ornithologists` Union, 27-30 August 2011, Riga, Latvia.

Zehtindjiev P., Vasilev V., Dimitrov D. Wind direction controls autumn migration of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia): a case study of soaring bird migration at Via Pontica., 8th Conference of the European Ornithologists’ Union, 27-30 August 2011, Riga, Latvia.

Ilieva, M., Bensch, S., Sjöholm, C., Dimitrov, D., Zehtindjiev, P., Åkesson, S. Gradual change in the migratory passage of willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) populations through the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula revealed by genetic markers. 8th Conference of the European Ornithologists` Union, 27-30 August 2011, Riga, Latvia.

Ilieva, M., Zehtindjiev, P., Dimitrov, D., Oparina, O., Oparin, M., Åkesson, S. Migratory orientation of paddyfield warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) displaced from NE Bulgaria to Saratov province, Russia. RIN11 Orientation & Navigation: Birds, Humans & Other Animals, 6-9 April 2011, University of Reading, UK.

Zehtindjiev P., Dimitrov D., Bensch S. Bird - Malaria interactions in experimental infections: Fitness and Specificity. 7th Conference of the European Ornithologists. August 2009, Union at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Zehtindjiev P., Dimitrov D. 2009. Bird malaria in Bulgaria: results from an experimental approach at Kalimok station. 8th Nacional conference in parasitology, September 2009, Varna, Bulgaria.

Dimitrov D., Zehtindjiev P., Marzal A., Bensch S. Specificity of the cyt b lineage (GRW4), Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) relictum (Grassi & Feletti 1891) in experimental infection of House sparrow. IV Avian Malaria Workshop, November 2008, Badajoz, Spain.

Zehtindjiev P., Scebba S., Dimitrov D., Chakarov N., Krizanauskiene A., Hegemann A., Bensch S. The occurrence of haemosporidian parasites in Skylark ( Alauda arvensis Linnaeus, 1758) populations from Southern Italy and the Netherlands. IV Avian Malaria Workshop, November 2008, Badajoz, Spain.

Dimitrov D., Ilieva M., Zehtindjiev P., Golemansky V. Experimental approach in studying of inter-cellular blood parasites Haemosporida in wild birds. 6th Conference in zoology, May 2007, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Research interests

Avian blood parasites: morphology, taxonomy, systematics, molecular biology and evolution of haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporidia) in birds, ecology and life-history.
Bird migration and orientation. Blood parasites as pathogens affecting physiological condition and fitness of migratory birds.
Reintroduction of rare and endangered species: ecology of captive birds and methods for reintroduction in nature.

Publications

1. Ferraguti, M., Magallanes, S., Jiménez‐Peñuela, J., Martínez‐de la Puente, J., Garcia‐Longoria, L., Figuerola, J., Muriel, J., Albayrak, T., Bensch, S., Bonneaud, C., Clarke, R.H., Czirják, G.Á., Dimitrov, D., Espinoza, K., Ewen, J.G., Ishtiaq, F., Flores‐Saavedra, W., Garamszegi, L.Z., Hellgren, O., Horakova, D., Huyvaert, K.P., Jensen, H., Križanauskienė, A., Lima, M.R., Lujan‐Vega, C., Magnussen, E., Martin, L.B., Matson, K.D., Møller, A.P., Munclinger, P., Palinauskas, V., Pap, P.L., Pérez‐Tris, J., Renner, S.C., Ricklefs, R., Scebba, S., Sehgal, R.N.M., Soler, M., Szöllősi, E., Valkiūnas, G., Westerdahl, H., Zehtindjiev, P. & Marzal, A. (2023) Environmental, geographical and time‐related impacts on avian malaria infections in native and introduced populations of house sparrows (Passer domesticus), a globally invasive species. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 1–15.
2. Dimitrov, D., Bobeva, A., Marinov, M.P., Ilieva, M. & Zehtindjiev, P. (2023) First evidence for development of Plasmodium relictum (Grassi and Feletti, 1891) sporozoites in the salivary glands of Culex modestus Ficalbi, 1889. Parasitology Research.
3. Trifonova, I., Christova, I., Ivanova-Aleksandrova, N., Gladnishka, T., Ivanova, V., Panayotova, E., Taseva, E., Dimitrov, D., Marinov, M., Kamenov, G. & Zehtindjiev, P. (2022) Survey of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and West Nile fever virus in wild birds in Bulgaria. Biologia 77, 3519–3524.
4. Ivanova-Aleksandrova, N., Christova, I., Dimitrov, D., Marinov, M.P., Panayotova, E., Trifonova, I., Taseva, E., Gladnishka, T., Kamenov, G., Ilieva, M. & Zehtindjiev, P. (2021) Records of Ixodid ticks on wild birds in Bulgaria. Problems of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases 49, 35–39.
5. Brlík, V., Malmiga, G., Dimitrov, D., Emmenegger, T., Gavrilov, A., Hasselquist, D., Peev, S., Willemoes, M., Yohannes, E., Hahn, S., Hansson, B. & Procházka, P. (2020) Population-specific assessment of carry-over effects across the range of a migratory songbird. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 74, 143.
6. Dimitrov, D., Marinov, M.P., Bobeva, A., Ilieva, M., Bedev, K., Atanasov, T. & Zehtindjiev, P. (2019) Haemosporidian parasites and leukocyte profiles of pre-migratory rosy starlings (Pastor roseus) brought into captivity. Animal Migration 6, 41–48.
7. Buttemer, W. A., Bauer, S., Emmenegger, T., Dimitrov, D., Peev, S., & Hahn, S. (2019). Moult-related reduction of aerobic scope in passerine birds. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 1-8.
8. Hahn, S., Dimitrov, D., Emmenegger, T., Ilieva, M., Peev, S., Zehtindjiev, P. & Briedis, M. (2019) Migration, wing morphometry and wing moult in Spanish and House Sparrows from the eastern Balkan Peninsula. Journal of Ornithology 160, 271–274.
9. Emmenegger, T., Bauer, S., Dimitrov, D., Olano Marin, J., Zehtindjiev, P. & Hahn, S. (2018) Host migration strategy and blood parasite infections of three sparrow species sympatrically breeding in Southeast Europe. Parasitology Research 117, 3733–3741.
10. Dimitrov, D., Ilieva, M., Ivanova, K., Brlík, V. & Zehtindjiev, P. (2018) Detecting local transmission of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites (Apicomlexa, Haemosporida) at a Special Protection Area of Natura 2000 network. Parasitology Research 117, 2187–2199.
11. Hahn, S., Bauer, S., Dimitrov, D., Emmenegger, T., Ivanova, K., Zehtindjiev, P. & Buttemer, W.A. (2018) Low intensity blood parasite infections do not reduce the aerobic performance of migratory birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 285, 20172307.
12. Ivanova, K., Zehtindjiev, P., Mariaux, J., Dimitrov, D. & Georgiev, B.B. (2018) Avian haemosporidians from rain forests in Madagascar: Molecular and morphological data of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 58, 115–124.
13. Zehtindjiev, P., Vasilev, V., Marinov, M.P., Ilieva, M., Dimitrov, D., Peev, S., Raykov, I., Raykova, V., Ivanova, K., Bedev, K. & Yankov, Y. (2017) No evidence for displacement of wintering red-breasted geese Branta ruficollis (Pallas, 1769) (Anseriformes) at a wind farms area in northeast Bulgaria: Long-term monitoring results. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 69, 215–228.
14. Marinov, M.P., Marchetti, C., Dimitrov, D., Ilieva, M. & Zehtindjiev, P. (2017) Mixed haemosporidian infections are associated with higher fearfulness in Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava). Canadian Journal of Zoology 95, 405–410.
15. Marinov, M., Zehtindjiev, P., Dimitrov, D., Ilieva, M., Bobeva, A. & Marchetti, C. (2017) Haemosporidian infections and host behavioural variation: a case study on wild-caught nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos). Ethology Ecology and Evolution 29, 126–137.
16. Clark, N.J., Wells, K., Dimitrov, D. & Clegg, S.M. (2016) Co-infections and environmental conditions drive the distributions of blood parasites in wild birds. Journal of Animal Ecology 85, 1461–1470.
17. Dimitrov, D., Iezhova, T.A., Zehtindjiev, P., Bobeva, A., Ilieva, M., Kirilova, M., Bedev, K., Sjöholm, C. & Valkiūnas, G. (2016) Molecular characterisation of three avian haemoproteids (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae), with the description of Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) palloris n. sp. Systematic Parasitology 93, 431–449.
18. Bukauskaitė, D., Žiegytė, R., Palinauskas, V., Iezhova, T.A., Dimitrov, D., Ilgūnas, M., Bernotienė, R., Markovets, M.Y. & Valkiūnas, G. (2015) Biting midges (Culicoides, Diptera) transmit Haemoproteus parasites of owls: evidence from sporogony and molecular phylogeny. Parasites & Vectors 8, 303.
19. Valkiūnas, G., Žiegytė, R., Palinauskas, V., Bernotienė, R., Bukauskaitė, D., Ilgūnas, M., Dimitrov, D. & Iezhova, T.A. (2015) Complete sporogony of Plasmodium relictum (lineage pGRW4) in mosquitoes Culex pipiens pipiens, with implications on avian malaria epidemiology. Parasitology Research 114, 3075–3085.
20. Bobeva, A., Zehtindjiev, P., Ilieva, M., Dimitrov, D., Mathis, A. & Bensch, S. (2015) Host preferences of ornithophilic biting midges of the genus Culicoides in the Eastern Balkans. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 29, 290–296.
21. Dimitrov, D., Palinauskas, V., Iezhova, T.A., Bernotienė, R., Ilgūnas, M., Bukauskaitė, D., Zehtindjiev, P., Ilieva, M., Shapoval, A.P., Bolshakov, C. V., Markovets, M.Y., Bensch, S. & Valkiūnas, G. (2015) Plasmodium spp.: An experimental study on vertebrate host susceptibility to avian malaria. Experimental Parasitology 148, 1–16.
22. Hellgren, O., Atkinson, C.T., Bensch, S., Albayrak, T., Dimitrov, D., Ewen, J.G., Kim, K.S., Lima, M.R., Martin, L., Palinauskas, V., Ricklefs, R., Sehgal, R.N.M., Valkiūnas, G., Tsuda, Y. & Marzal, A. (2014) Global phylogeography of the avian malaria pathogen Plasmodium relictum based on MSP1 allelic diversity. Ecography 38, 842–850.
23. Bobeva, A., Ilieva, M., Dimitrov, D. & Zehtindjiev, P. (2014) Degree of associations among vectors of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and host bird species with respect to haemosporidian parasites in NE Bulgaria. Parasitology research 113, 4505–4511.
24. Valkiūnas, G., Palinauskas, V., Ilgūnas, M., Bukauskaitė, D., Dimitrov, D., Bernotienė, R., Zehtindjiev, P., Ilieva, M. & Iezhova, T.A. (2014) Molecular characterization of five widespread avian haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida), with perspectives on the PCR-based detection of haemosporidians in wildlife. Parasitology Research 113, 2251–2263.
25. Hahn, S., Dimitrov, D., Rehse, S., Yohannes, E. & Jenni, L. (2014) Avian claw morphometry and growth determine the temporal pattern of archived stable isotopes. Journal of Avian Biology 45, 202–207.
26. Dimitrov, D., Zehtindjiev, P., Bensch, S., Ilieva, M., Iezhova, T.A. & Valkiūnas, G. (2014) Two new species of Haemoproteus Kruse, 1890 (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) from European birds, with emphasis on DNA barcoding for detection of haemosporidians in wildlife. Systematic Parasitology 87, 135–151.
27. Dimitrov, D., Valkiūnas, G., Zehtindjiev, P., Ilieva, M. & Bensch, S. (2013) Molecular characterization of haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida) in yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava), with description of in vitro ookinetes of Haemoproteus motacillae. Zootaxa 3666, 369–381.
28. Zehtindjiev, P., Križanauskienė, A., Bensch, S., Palinauskas, V., Asghar, M., Dimitrov, D., Scebba, S. & Valkiūnas, G. (2012) A new morphologically distinct avian malaria parasite that fails detection by established polymerase chain reaction-based protocols for amplification of the cytochrome B gene. The Journal of parasitology 98, 657–665.
29. Zehtindjiev, P., Križanauskienė, A., Scebba, S., Dimitrov, D., Valkiūnas, G., Hegemann, A., Tieleman, B.I. & Bensch, S. (2011) Haemosporidian infections in skylarks (Alauda arvensis): a comparative PCR-based and microscopy study on the parasite diversity and prevalence in southern Italy and the Netherlands. European Journal of Wildlife Research 58, 335–344.
30. Dimitrov, D., Zehtindjiev, P. & Bensch, S. (2010) Genetic diversity of avian blood parasites in SE Europe: Cytochrome b lineages of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus (Haemosporida) from Bulgaria. Acta Parasitologica 55, 201–209.
31. Valkiūnas, G., Zehtindjiev, P., Dimitrov, D., Križanauskienė, A., Iezhova, T.A. & Bensch, S. (2008) Polymerase chain reaction-based identification of Plasmodium (Huffia) elongatum, with remarks on species identity of haemosporidian lineages deposited in GenBank. Parasitology Research 102, 1185–1193.

Affiliation

Department
Animal Diversity and Resources
Division
Biodiversity and Ecology of Parasites
Research group
Avian Blood Parasites

History

Member for
11 years 20 weeks