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Geraldes MA, Cunha MV, Godinho C, de Lima RF, Giovanetti M, Lourenço J. The historical ecological background of West Nile virus in Portugal indicates One Health opportunities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 944:173875. [PMID: 38866158 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
West Nile (WNV) is a zoonotic arbovirus with an expanding geographical range and epidemic activity in Europe. Not having yet experienced a human-associated epidemic, Portugal remains an outlier in the Mediterranean basin. In this study, we apply ecological niche modelling informed by WNV historical evidence and a multitude of environmental variables from across Portugal. We identify that ecological backgrounds compatible with WNV historical circulation are mostly restricted to the south, characterized by a warmer and drier climate, high avian diversity, specific avian species and land types. We estimate WNV ecological suitability across the country, identifying overlaps with the distributions of the three relevant hosts (humans, birds, equines) for public and animal health. From this, we propose a category-based spatial framework providing first of a kind valuable insights for WNV surveillance in Portugal under the One Health nexus. We forecast that near future climate trends alone will contribute to pushing adequate WNV ecological suitability northwards, towards regions with higher human density. This unique perspective on the past, present and future ecology of WNV addresses existing national knowledge gaps, enhances our understanding of the evolving emergence of WNV, and offers opportunities to prepare and respond to the first human-associated epidemic in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martim A Geraldes
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica V Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Godinho
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, LabOr - Laboratory of Ornithology, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
| | - Ricardo F de Lima
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Centro de Biodiversidade do Golfo da Guiné (CBGG), São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, Università of Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Italy; Climate amplified diseases and epidemics (CLIMADE) Americas, Brazil
| | - José Lourenço
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Católica Medical School, Católica Biomedical Research Centre, Portugal; Climate amplified diseases and epidemics (CLIMADE) Europe, Portugal.
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2
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Ferraguti M. Mosquito species identity matters: unraveling the complex interplay in vector-borne diseases. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:685-696. [PMID: 38795138 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2024.2357624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on vector-borne diseases has traditionally centred on a limited number of vertebrate hosts and their associated pathogens, often neglecting the broader array of vectors within communities. Mosquitoes, with their vast species diversity, hold a central role in disease transmission, yet their capacity to transmit specific pathogens varies considerably among species. Quantitative modelling of mosquito-borne diseases is essential for understanding transmission dynamics and requires the necessity of incorporating the identity of vector species into these models. Consequently, understanding the role of different species of mosquitoes in modelling vector-borne diseases is crucial for comprehending pathogen amplification and spill-over into humans. This comprehensive overview highlights the importance of considering mosquito identity and emphasises the essential need for targeted research efforts to gain a complete understanding of vector-pathogen specificity. METHODS Leveraging the recently published book, 'Mosquitoes of the World', I identified 19 target mosquito species in Europe, highlighting the diverse transmission patterns exhibited by different vector species and the presence of 135 medically important pathogens. RESULTS The review delves into the complexities of vector-pathogen interactions, with a focus on specialist and generalist strategies. Furthermore, I discuss the importance of using appropriate diversity indices and the challenges associated with the identification of correct indices. CONCLUSIONS Given that the diversity and relative abundance of key species within a community significantly impact disease risk, comprehending the implications of mosquito diversity in pathogen transmission at a fine scale is crucial for advancing the management and surveillance of mosquito-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ferraguti
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Department of Theoretical and Computational Ecology (TCE), Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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3
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Figuerola J, la Puente JMD, Díez-Fernández A, Thomson RL, Aguirre JI, Faivre B, Ibañez-Alamo JD. Urbanization correlates with the prevalence and richness of blood parasites in Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171303. [PMID: 38423334 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Urbanization is increasing worldwide, producing severe environmental impacts. Biodiversity is affected by the expansion of cities, with many species being unable to cope with the different human-induced stressors present in these landscapes. However, this knowledge is mainly based on research from taxa such as plants or vertebrates, while other organisms like protozoa have been less studied in this context. The impact of urbanization on the transmission of vector-borne pathogens in wildlife is still unclear despite its relevance for animal and human health. Here, we investigated whether cities are associated with changes in the prevalence and richness of lineages of three vector-borne protozoans (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) from multiple urban and forest areas in Europe. Our results show important species-specific differences between these two habitat types. We found a significant lower prevalence of Leucocytozoon in urban birds compared to forest birds, but no differences for Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. Furthermore, the richness of parasite lineages in European cities was higher for Plasmodium but lower for Leucocytozoon than in forests. We also found one Plasmodium lineage exclusively from cities while another of Leucocytozoon was only found in forests suggesting a certain level of habitat specialization for these protozoan vectors. Overall, our findings show that cities provide contrasting opportunities for the transmission of different vector-borne pathogens and generate new scenarios for the interactions between hosts, vectors and parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Alazne Díez-Fernández
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Robert L Thomson
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Bruno Faivre
- UMR CNRS 6282, Biogéosciences, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
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4
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Meyer M, Melville DW, Baldwin HJ, Wilhelm K, Nkrumah EE, Badu EK, Oppong SK, Schwensow N, Stow A, Vallo P, Corman VM, Tschapka M, Drosten C, Sommer S. Bat species assemblage predicts coronavirus prevalence. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2887. [PMID: 38575573 PMCID: PMC10994947 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46979-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic disturbances and the subsequent loss of biodiversity are altering species abundances and communities. Since species vary in their pathogen competence, spatio-temporal changes in host assemblages may lead to changes in disease dynamics. We explore how longitudinal changes in bat species assemblages affect the disease dynamics of coronaviruses (CoVs) in more than 2300 cave-dwelling bats captured over two years from five caves in Ghana. This reveals uneven CoV infection patterns between closely related species, with the alpha-CoV 229E-like and SARS-related beta-CoV 2b emerging as multi-host pathogens. Prevalence and infection likelihood for both phylogenetically distinct CoVs is influenced by the abundance of competent species and naïve subadults. Broadly, bat species vary in CoV competence, and highly competent species are more common in less diverse communities, leading to increased CoV prevalence in less diverse bat assemblages. In line with the One Health framework, our work supports the notion that biodiversity conservation may be the most proactive measure to prevent the spread of pathogens with zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Meyer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Dominik W Melville
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Heather J Baldwin
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kerstin Wilhelm
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Evans Ewald Nkrumah
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer K Badu
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Kingsley Oppong
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Nina Schwensow
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Adam Stow
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter Vallo
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Victor M Corman
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Tschapka
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
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5
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Ferraguti M, Magallanes S, Mora-Rubio C, Bravo-Barriga D, Marzal A, Hernandez-Caballero I, Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Llorente F, Pérez-Ramírez E, Guerrero-Carvajal F, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Frontera E, Ortiz JA, de Lope F. Implications of migratory and exotic birds and the mosquito community on West Nile virus transmission. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:206-219. [PMID: 38160682 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2288614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-borne diseases like West Nile virus (WNV) pose a global health challenge, with rising incidence and distribution. Culex mosquitoes are crucial WNV vectors. Avian species composition and bird community diversity, along with vector communities, influence WNV transmission patterns. However, limited knowledge exists on their impact in southwestern Spain, an area with active WNV circulation in wild birds, mosquitoes, and humans. METHODS To address this, we conducted a comprehensive study investigating the contributions of migratory and exotic bird species to WNV transmission and the influence of mosquito community composition. RESULTS Analysing 1194 serum samples from 44 avian species, we detected WNV antibodies in 32 samples from 11 species, four for the first time in Europe. Migratory birds had higher WNV exposure likelihood than native and exotic species, and higher phylogenetic diversity in bird communities correlated with lower exposure rates. Moreover, in 5859 female mosquitoes belonging to 12 species, we identified WNV competent vectors like Cx. pipiens s.l. and the Univittatus subgroup. Birds with WNV antibodies were positively associated with competent vector abundance, but negatively with overall mosquito species richness. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the complex interactions between bird species, their phylogenetics, and mosquito vectors in WNV transmission. Understanding these dynamics will help to implement effective disease control strategies in southwestern Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ferraguti
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Seville, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Seville, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Mora-Rubio
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Universidad de Córdoba, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Zoonosis y Sanidad Animal (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Córdoba, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Veterinaria, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Parasitología, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Alfonso Marzal
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Tarapoto, Perú
| | - Irene Hernandez-Caballero
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
| | | | - Francisco Llorente
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Elisa Pérez-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Eva Frontera
- Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Tarapoto, Perú
| | | | - Florentino de Lope
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
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6
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Silva GGD, Lopez VM, Vilarinho AC, Datto-Liberato FH, Oliveira CJF, Poulin R, Guillermo-Ferreira R. Vector species richness predicts local mortality rates from Chagas disease. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:139-145. [PMID: 37944883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Vector species richness may drive the prevalence of vector-borne diseases by influencing pathogen transmission rates. The dilution effect hypothesis predicts that higher biodiversity reduces disease prevalence, but with inconclusive evidence. In contrast, the amplification effect hypothesis suggests that higher vector diversity may result in greater disease transmission by increasing and diversifying the transmission pathways. The relationship between vector diversity and pathogen transmission remains unclear and requires further study. Chagas disease is a vector-borne disease most prevalent in Brazil and transmitted by multiple species of insect vectors of the subfamily Triatominae, yet the drivers of spatial variation in its impact on human populations remain unresolved. We tested whether triatomine species richness, latitude, bioclimatic variables, human host population density, and socioeconomic variables predict Chagas disease mortality rates across over 5000 spatial grid cells covering all of Brazil. Results show that species richness of triatomine vectors is a good predictor of mortality rates caused by Chagas disease, which supports the amplification effect hypothesis. Vector richness and the impact of Chagas disease may also be driven by latitudinal components of climate and human socioeconomic factors. We provide evidence that vector diversity is a strong predictor of disease prevalence and give support to the amplification effect hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Gonzaga da Silva
- Lestes Laboratory, Center of Entomology and Experimental Biology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Federal University of Sao Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Marques Lopez
- Lestes Laboratory, Center of Entomology and Experimental Biology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Graduate Program in Entomology, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Vilarinho
- Federal University of Sao Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Health Sciences Institute, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Felipe H Datto-Liberato
- Lestes Laboratory, Center of Entomology and Experimental Biology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Graduate Program in Entomology, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlo José Freire Oliveira
- Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectiology, Department of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira
- Lestes Laboratory, Center of Entomology and Experimental Biology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Federal University of Sao Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Entomology, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectiology, Department of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
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7
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Fearon ML, Gowler CD, Duffy MA. Inconsistent dilution: experimental but not field evidence for a dilution effect in Daphnia-bacteria interactions. Oecologia 2024; 204:351-363. [PMID: 38105355 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05486-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The dilution effect hypothesis, which suggests greater host biodiversity can reduce infectious disease transmission, occurs in many systems but is not universal. Most studies only investigate the dilution of a single parasite in a community, but many host communities have multiple parasites circulating. We studied a zooplankton host community with prior support for a dilution effect in laboratory- and field-based studies of a fungal parasite, Metschnikowia bicuspidata. We used paired experiments and field studies to ask whether dilution also occurred for a bacterial parasite, Pasteuria ramosa. We hypothesized that the similarities between the parasites might mean the dilution pattern seen in Metschnikowia would also be seen in Pasteuria. However, because Daphnia-Pasteuria interactions have strong host-parasite genotype specificity, dilution may be less likely if diluter host genotypes vary in their capacity to dilute Pasteuria. In a lab experiment, Pasteuria prevalence in susceptible Daphnia dentifera was reduced strongly by higher densities of D. pulicaria and marginally by higher densities of D. retrocurva. In a second experiment, different D. pulicaria genotypes had a similar capacity to dilute both Metschnikowia and Pasteuria, suggesting that Pasteuria's strong host-parasite genotype specificity should not prevent dilution. However, we found no evidence of an impact of the dilution effect on the size of Pasteuria epidemics in D. dentifera in Midwestern U.S. lakes. Our finding that a second parasite infecting the same host community does not show a similar dilution effect in the field suggests the impact of biodiversity can differ even among parasites in the same host community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Fearon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Camden D Gowler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Meghan A Duffy
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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8
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Pagenkopp Lohan KM, Gignoux-Wolfsohn SA, Ruiz GM. Biodiversity differentially impacts disease dynamics across marine and terrestrial habitats. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:106-117. [PMID: 38212198 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The relationship between biodiversity and infectious disease, where increased biodiversity leads to decreased disease risk, originated from research in terrestrial disease systems and remains relatively underexplored in marine systems. Understanding the impacts of biodiversity on disease in marine versus terrestrial systems is key to continued marine ecosystem functioning, sustainable aquaculture, and restoration projects. We compare the biodiversity-disease relationship across terrestrial and marine systems, considering biodiversity at six levels: intraspecific host diversity, host microbiomes, interspecific host diversity, biotic vectors and reservoirs, parasite consumers, and parasites. We highlight gaps in knowledge regarding how these six levels of biodiversity impact diseases in marine systems and propose two model systems, the Perkinsus-oyster and Labyrinthula-seagrass systems, to address these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina M Pagenkopp Lohan
- Coastal Disease Ecology Laboratory, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA.
| | - Sarah A Gignoux-Wolfsohn
- Coastal Disease Ecology Laboratory, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA; Current address: Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Gregory M Ruiz
- Marine Invasions Research Laboratory, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA
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9
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Magallanes S, Llorente F, Ruiz-López MJ, Martínez-de la Puente J, Soriguer R, Calderon J, Jímenez-Clavero MÁ, Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Figuerola J. Long-term serological surveillance for West Nile and Usutu virus in horses in south-West Spain. One Health 2023; 17:100578. [PMID: 38024263 PMCID: PMC10665154 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a re-emerging zoonotic pathogen with increasing incidence in Europe, producing a recent outbreak in 2020 in Spain with 77 human cases and eight fatalities. However, the factors explaining the observed changes in the incidence of WNV in Europe are not completely understood. Longitudinal monitoring of WNV in wild animals across Europe is a useful approach to understand the eco-epidemiology of WNV in the wild and the risk of spillover into humans. However, such studies are very scarce up to now. Here, we analysed the occurrence of WNV and Usutu virus (USUV) antibodies in 2102 samples collected between 2005 and 2020 from a population of feral horses in Doñana National Park. The prevalence of WNV antibodies varied between years, with a mean seroprevalence of 8.1% (range 0%-25%) and seasonally. Climate conditions including mean minimum annual temperatures and mean rainy days per year were positively correlated with WNV seroprevalence, while the annual rainfall was negatively. We also detected the highest incidence of seroconversions in 2020 coinciding with the human outbreak in southern Spain. Usutu virus-specific antibodies were detected in the horse population since 2011. The WNV outbreak in humans was preceded by a long period of increasing circulation of WNV among horses with a very high exposure in the year of the outbreak. These results highlight the utility of One Health approaches to better understand the transmission dynamics of zoonotics pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Magallanes
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Llorente
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, 28130, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Ruiz-López
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada E-18071, Spain
| | - Ramon Soriguer
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Juan Calderon
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Jímenez-Clavero
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, 28130, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | | | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
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10
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Newberger DR, Minas IS, Manter DK, Vivanco JM. Shifts of the soil microbiome composition induced by plant-plant interactions under increasing cover crop densities and diversities. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17150. [PMID: 37816810 PMCID: PMC10564930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44104-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Interspecific and intraspecific competition and facilitation have been a focus of study in plant-plant interactions, but their influence on plant recruitment of soil microbes is unknown. In this greenhouse microcosm experiment, three cover crops (alfalfa, brassica, and fescue) were grown alone, in paired mixtures, and all together under different densities. For all monoculture trials, total pot biomass increased as density increased. Monoculture plantings of brassica were associated with the bacteria Azospirillum spp., fescue with Ensifer adhaerens, and alfalfa with both bacterial taxa. In the polycultures of cover crops, for all plant mixtures, total above-ground alfalfa biomass increased with density, and total above ground brassica biomass remained unchanged. For each plant mixture, differential abundances highlighted bacterial taxa which had not been previously identified in monocultures. For instance, mixtures of all three plants showed an increase in abundance of Planctomyces sp. SH-PL14 and Sandaracinus amylolyticus which were not represented in the monocultures. Facilitation was best supported for the alfalfa-fescue interaction as the total above ground biomass was the highest of any mixture. Additionally, the bulk soil microbiome that correlated with increasing plant densities showed increases in plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria such as Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Stentotrophomonas spp., and Azospirillum sp. In contrast, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a previously known generalist phytopathogen, also increased with alfalfa-fescue plant densities. This could suggest a strategy by which, after facilitation, a plant neighbor could culture a pathogen that could be more detrimental to the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek R Newberger
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Center for Rhizosphere Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Ioannis S Minas
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Pomology Research, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Daniel K Manter
- USDA, Agricultural Research Services, Soil Management and Sugar Beet Research Unit, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Jorge M Vivanco
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Center for Rhizosphere Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
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11
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Gonzalez Daza W, Muylaert RL, Sobral-Souza T, Lemes Landeiro V. Malaria Risk Drivers in the Brazilian Amazon: Land Use-Land Cover Interactions and Biological Diversity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6497. [PMID: 37569037 PMCID: PMC10419050 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20156497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a prevalent disease in several tropical and subtropical regions, including Brazil, where it remains a significant public health concern. Even though there have been substantial efforts to decrease the number of cases, the reoccurrence of epidemics in regions that have been free of cases for many years presents a significant challenge. Due to the multifaceted factors that influence the spread of malaria, influencing malaria risk factors were analyzed through regional outbreak cluster analysis and spatio-temporal models in the Brazilian Amazon, incorporating climate, land use/cover interactions, species richness, and number of endemic birds and amphibians. Results showed that high amphibian and bird richness and endemism correlated with a reduction in malaria risk. The presence of forest had a risk-increasing effect, but it depended on its juxtaposition with anthropic land uses. Biodiversity and landscape composition, rather than forest formation presence alone, modulated malaria risk in the period. Areas with low endemic species diversity and high human activity, predominantly anthropogenic landscapes, posed high malaria risk. This study underscores the importance of considering the broader ecological context in malaria control efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Gonzalez Daza
- Programa do Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Departamento de Biociências, Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa, 2367, Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil
| | - Renata L. Muylaert
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4472, New Zealand;
| | - Thadeu Sobral-Souza
- Departamento de Botânica e Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil; (T.S.-S.); (V.L.L.)
| | - Victor Lemes Landeiro
- Departamento de Botânica e Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil; (T.S.-S.); (V.L.L.)
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12
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Tamayo-Quintero J, Martínez-de la Puente J, San-José M, González-Quevedo C, Rivera-Gutiérrez HF. Bird community effects on avian malaria infections. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11681. [PMID: 37468559 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38660-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In community assembly processes, interspecific interactions play an important role in shaping community diversity, especially at the local scale. Changes in species richness or abundance can modify local infectious disease dynamics, either reducing or increasing the risk of transmission within the community. This study evaluates the effects of bird community on avian haemosporidians infections in a Neotropical region. Bird samples were collected from areas surrounding three dams, and molecular analysis were performed to identify blood-parasitic haemosporidia infecting the birds. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the relationships between the bird community and the prevalence, number of infections, and richness of avian haemosporidian lineages. Non-significant effects of bird community dominance and richness on the prevalence of avian parasites and the number of infections of Haemoproteus were found. However, there was evidence of an amplification effect. Host dominance was associated with the total number of infections, the number Plasmodium infections and the expected richness of Plasmodium lineages, while the expected richness of Haemoproteus lineages was associated with the richness of bird species. These findings highlight the role of host community dominance and richness in the dynamics of parasite infections, potentially influenced by the availability of competent hosts. This study contributes significantly to our understanding of blood parasite diversity in tropical birds within a relatively understudied region of South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Tamayo-Quintero
- Grupo de Ecología y Evolución de Vertebrados, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
| | | | - Miriam San-José
- Charles Darwin Foundation, Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
| | - Catalina González-Quevedo
- Grupo de Ecología y Evolución de Vertebrados, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Héctor F Rivera-Gutiérrez
- Grupo de Ecología y Evolución de Vertebrados, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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13
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Gómez-Hernández EA, Moreno-Gómez FN, Bravo-Gaete M, Córdova-Lepe F. Concurrent dilution and amplification effects in an intraguild predation eco-epidemiological model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6425. [PMID: 37081120 PMCID: PMC10119278 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33345-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The dilution and amplification effects are important concepts in the field of zoonotic diseases. While the dilution effect predicts that pathogen prevalence is negatively correlated with increased species diversity, the opposite trend is observed when the amplification effect occurs. Understanding how interspecific interactions such as predation and competition within a community influence disease transmission is highly relevant. We explore the conditions under which the dilution and amplification effects arise, using compartmental models that integrate ecological and epidemiological interactions. We formulate an intraguild predation model where each species is divided into two compartments: susceptible and infected individuals. We obtained that increasing predation increases the disease transmission potential of the predator and the density of infected individuals, but decreases the disease transmission potential of the prey, as well as their density. Also, we found that interspecific competition always helps to decrease the number of infected individuals in the population of the two species. Therefore, dilution and amplification effects can be observed simultaneously but depending on different types of cological interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enith A Gómez-Hernández
- Doctorado en Modelamiento Matemático Aplicado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile.
| | - Felipe N Moreno-Gómez
- Departamento de Biología y Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Moisés Bravo-Gaete
- Departamento de Matemática, Física y Estadística, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Fernando Córdova-Lepe
- Departamento de Matemática, Física y Estadística, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
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14
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Warmuth VM, Metzler D, Zamora-Gutierrez V. Human disturbance increases coronavirus prevalence in bats. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd0688. [PMID: 37000877 PMCID: PMC10065436 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add0688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Human land modification is a known driver of animal-to-human transmission of infectious agents (zoonotic spillover). Infection prevalence in the reservoir is a key predictor of spillover, but landscape-level associations between the intensity of land modification and infection rates in wildlife remain largely untested. Bat-borne coronaviruses have caused three major disease outbreaks in humans: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We statistically link high-resolution land modification data with bat coronavirus surveillance records and show that coronavirus prevalence significantly increases with the intensity of human impact across all climates and levels of background biodiversity. The most significant contributors to the overall human impact are agriculture, deforestation, and mining. Regions of high predicted bat coronavirus prevalence coincide with global disease hotspots, suggesting that infection prevalence in wildlife may be an important factor underlying links between human land modification and zoonotic disease emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera M. Warmuth
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 2, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Dirk Metzler
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 2, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Veronica Zamora-Gutierrez
- CONACYT - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Durango (CIIDIR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Durango, México
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15
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L'Ambert G, Gendrot M, Briolant S, Nguyen A, Pages S, Bosio L, Palomo V, Gomez N, Benoit N, Savini H, Pradines B, Durand GA, Leparc-Goffart I, Grard G, Fontaine A. Analysis of trapped mosquito excreta as a noninvasive method to reveal biodiversity and arbovirus circulation. Mol Ecol Resour 2023; 23:410-423. [PMID: 36161270 PMCID: PMC10092573 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13716] [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: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Emerging and endemic mosquito-borne viruses can be difficult to detect and monitor because they often cause asymptomatic infections in human or vertebrate animals or cause nonspecific febrile illness with a short recovery waiting period. Some of these pathogens circulate into complex cryptic cycles involving several animal species as reservoir or amplifying hosts. Detection of cases in vertebrate hosts can be complemented by entomological surveillance, but this method is not adapted to low infection rates in mosquito populations that typically occur in low or nonendemic areas. We identified West Nile virus circulation in Camargue, a wetland area in South of France, using a cost-effective xenomonitoring method based on the molecular detection of virus in excreta from trapped mosquitoes. We also succeeded at identifying the mosquito species community on several sampling sites, together with the vertebrate hosts on which they fed prior to being captured using amplicon-based metabarcoding on mosquito excreta without processing any mosquitoes. Mosquito excreta-based virus surveillance can complement standard surveillance methods because it is cost-effective and does not require personnel with a strong background in entomology. This strategy can also be used to noninvasively explore the ecological network underlying arbovirus circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégory L'Ambert
- Entente Interdépartementale Pour la Démoustication du Littoral Méditerranéen (EID Méditerranée), Montpellier, France
| | - Mathieu Gendrot
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Marseille, France.,IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Sébastien Briolant
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Marseille, France.,IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | | | - Sylvain Pages
- Entente Interdépartementale Pour la Démoustication du Littoral Méditerranéen (EID Méditerranée), Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Bosio
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207), Marseille, France.,Centre National de Référence des Arbovirus, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Palomo
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207), Marseille, France.,Centre National de Référence des Arbovirus, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Marseille, France
| | - Nicolas Gomez
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Marseille, France.,IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Nicolas Benoit
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Marseille, France.,IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Hélène Savini
- IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Laveran, Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Pradines
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Marseille, France.,IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.,Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, Marseille, France
| | - Guillaume André Durand
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207), Marseille, France.,Centre National de Référence des Arbovirus, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Marseille, France
| | - Isabelle Leparc-Goffart
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207), Marseille, France.,Centre National de Référence des Arbovirus, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Marseille, France
| | - Gilda Grard
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207), Marseille, France.,Centre National de Référence des Arbovirus, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Marseille, France
| | - Albin Fontaine
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), Marseille, France.,IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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16
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Host selection and forage ratio in West Nile virus-transmitting Culex mosquitoes: Challenges and knowledge gaps. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010819. [PMID: 36301825 PMCID: PMC9612463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, no specific therapy or vaccination is available for West Nile virus (WNV) infections in humans; preventive strategies represent the only possibility to control transmission. To focus these strategies, detailed knowledge of the virus dynamics is of paramount importance. However, several aspects of WNV transmission are still unclear, especially regarding the role of potential vertebrate host species. Whereas mosquitoes' intrinsic characteristics cause them to favour certain hosts (host preference), absolute selection is impossible in natural settings. Conversely, the selection carried out among available hosts and influenced from hosts' availability and other ecological/environmental factors is defined as host selection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In July 2022, we searched PubMed database for original articles exploring host selection among WNV-transmitting Culex mosquitoes, the main WNV vector. We considered only original field studies estimating and reporting forage ratio. This index results from the ratio between the proportion of blood meals taken by mosquitoes on potential host species and the hosts' relative abundance. From the originally retrieved 585 articles, 9 matched the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. All but one of the included studies were conducted in the Americas, six in the United States, and one each in Mexico and Colombia. The remaining study was conducted in Italy. American Robin, Northern Cardinal, and House Finch were the most significantly preferred birds in the Americas, Common Blackbird in Italy. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Although ornithophilic, all observed WNV-transmitting mosquitoes presented opportunistic feeding behaviour. All the observed species showed potential to act as bridges for zoonotic diseases, feeding also on humans. All the observed mosquitoes presented host selection patterns and did not feed on hosts as expected by chance alone. The articles observe different species of mosquitoes in different environments. In addition, the way the relative host abundance was determined differed. Finally, this review is not systematic. Therefore, the translation of our results to different settings should be conducted cautiously.
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17
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Pacheco MA, Ferreira FC, Logan CJ, McCune KB, MacPherson MP, Albino Miranda S, Santiago-Alarcon D, Escalante AA. Great-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) as a tolerant host of avian malaria parasites. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268161. [PMID: 35998118 PMCID: PMC9397854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Great-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) are a social, polygamous bird species whose populations have rapidly expanded their geographic range across North America over the past century. Before 1865, Great-tailed Grackles were only documented in Central America, Mexico, and southern Texas in the USA. Given the rapid northern expansion of this species, it is relevant to study its role in the dynamics of avian blood parasites. Here, 87 Great-tailed grackles in Arizona (a population in the new center of the range) were screened for haemosporidian parasites using microscopy and PCR targeting the parasite mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Individuals were caught in the wild from January 2018 until February 2020. Haemosporidian parasite prevalence was 62.1% (54/87). A high Plasmodium prevalence was found (60.9%, 53/87), and one grackle was infected with Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) sp. (lineage SIAMEX01). Twenty-one grackles were infected with P. cathemerium, sixteen with P. homopolare, four with P. relictum (strain GRW04), and eleven with three different genetic lineages of Plasmodium spp. that have not been characterized to species level (MOLATE01, PHPAT01, and ZEMAC01). Gametocytes were observed in birds infected with three different Plasmodium lineages, revealing that grackles are competent hosts for some parasite species. This study also suggests that grackles are highly susceptible and develop chronic infections consistent with parasite tolerance, making them competent to transmit some generalist haemosporidian lineages. It can be hypothesized that, as the Great-tailed Grackle expands its geographic range, it may affect local bird communities by increasing the transmission of local parasites but not introducing new species into the parasite species pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Andreína Pacheco
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CJL); (MAP); (AAE)
| | - Francisco C. Ferreira
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Corina J. Logan
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- * E-mail: (CJL); (MAP); (AAE)
| | - Kelsey B. McCune
- University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Maggie P. MacPherson
- University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
- Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Sergio Albino Miranda
- Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Diego Santiago-Alarcon
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ananias A. Escalante
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CJL); (MAP); (AAE)
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