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Pugliese N, Samarelli R, Lombardi R, Schiavone A, Crescenzo G, Circella E, Zizzadoro C, Lai O, Saleh MS, Prioletti M, Camarda A. A Safe and Effective Atovaquone-Proguanil Therapeutic Protocol for the Treatment of Avian Malaria by Plasmodium relictum in Snowy Owl ( Bubo scandiacus). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3457. [PMID: 38003076 PMCID: PMC10668658 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Avian malaria is a re-emerging threat to avian species worldwide. It is sustained by several protozoan species belonging to the genus Plasmodium, mainly Plasmodium relictum. The even wider diffusion of the disease, probably because of the increase in the areas covered by their mosquito vectors, may pose new risks for avian species lacking natural resistance (especially those from artic or sub-artic environments) or those hosted in structures like zoos and wildlife rescue centers. With that premise, this study describes the efficacy and safety of a therapeutic protocol to treat avian malaria in three snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus) hosted in a wildlife rescue center in Apulia, south of Italy, and affected by avian malaria by P. relictum. The protocol consisted of administering 10/4 mg/kg atovaquone/proguanil per os once a day for three consecutive days, repeating this seven days later. Seven days after the end of the treatment, P. relictum was not detected in the birds' blood and no adverse effects were observed during the 60 days of monitoring after the end of the treatment. Therefore, a therapeutic regimen of 10/4 mg/kg/day may be considered safe and effective in a valuable and endangered species such as B. scandiacus.
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Abdu S, Eisenring M, Zúñiga D, Alarcón-Nieto G, Schmid H, Aplin LM, Brandl HB, Farine DR. The presence of air sac nematodes in passerines and near-passerines in southern Germany. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:174-178. [PMID: 37252653 PMCID: PMC10220465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Major climatic changes in conjunction with animal movement may be associated with the spread of parasites and their vectors into new populations, with potentially important consequences for population persistence. Parasites can evolve to adapt to unsuitable ecological conditions and take up refuge within new host species, with consequences for the population growth of the new host species. One parasite species that has likely been increasing its geographic range, and potentially infecting new hosts, is the recently described air sac nematode Serratospiculoides amaculata, in great tits (Parus major) in Slovakia. In this study, we screened wild birds for potential air sac nematode infection in a woodland area of southern Germany. We identified four additional host species: Eurasian nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, greenfinch and robin. As infection by this group of nematodes can be highly pathogenic, we recommend further investigation into its potential risk to these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salamatu Abdu
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Melina Eisenring
- ETH Zurich, Department of Biology, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 27, HIT F41, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Zúñiga
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Gustavo Alarcón-Nieto
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Heidi Schmid
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Lucy M. Aplin
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Universität Konstanz, Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Hanja B. Brandl
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Universität Konstanz, Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Damien R. Farine
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
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Su XZ, Wu J. Zoonotic Transmissions and Host Switches of Malaria Parasites. ZOONOSES (BURLINGTON, MASS.) 2021; 1. [PMID: 35282332 DOI: 10.15212/zoonoses-2021-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a deadly disease that affects the health of hundreds of millions of people annually. There are five Plasmodium parasite species that can naturally infect humans, including Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium knowlesi. Some of the parasites can also infect various non-human primates. Parasites mainly infecting monkeys such as Plasmodium cynomolgi (in fact P. knowlesi was considered as a parasite of monkeys for years) can also be transmitted to human hosts. Recently, many new Plasmodium species were discovered in African apes, and it is possible that some of the parasites can be transmitted to humans in the future. Here, we searched PubMed and the internet via Google and selected articles concerning zoonotic transmission and evolution of selected malaria parasite species. We reviewed the current advances in the relevant topics emphasizing on transmissions of malaria parasites between humans and non-human primates. We also briefly discuss the transmissions of some avian malaria parasites between wild birds and domestic fowls. Zoonotic malaria transmissions are widespread, which poses a threat to public health. More studies on parasite species identification in non-human primates, transmission, and evolution are needed to reduce or prevent transmission of malaria parasites from non-human primates to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Zhuan Su
- Malaria Functional Genomics Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - Jian Wu
- Malaria Functional Genomics Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
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