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Valkiūnas G, Iezhova TA. Insights into the Biology of Leucocytozoon Species (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae): Why Is There Slow Research Progress on Agents of Leucocytozoonosis? Microorganisms 2023; 11:1251. [PMID: 37317225 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051251] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood parasites of the genus Leucocytozoon (Leucocytozoidae) only inhabit birds and represent a readily distinct evolutionary branch of the haemosporidians (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa). Some species cause pathology and even severe leucocytozoonosis in avian hosts, including poultry. The diversity of Leucocytozoon pathogens is remarkable, with over 1400 genetic lineages detected, most of which, however, have not been identified to the species level. At most, approximately 45 morphologically distinct species of Leucocytozoon have been described, but only a few have associated molecular data. This is unfortunate because basic information about named and morphologically recognized Leucocytozoon species is essential for a better understanding of phylogenetically closely related leucocytozoids that are known only by DNA sequence. Despite much research on haemosporidian parasites during the past 30 years, there has not been much progress in taxonomy, vectors, patterns of transmission, pathogenicity, and other aspects of the biology of these cosmopolitan bird pathogens. This study reviewed the available basic information on avian Leucocytozoon species, with particular attention to some obstacles that prevent progress to better understanding the biology of leucocytozoids. Major gaps in current Leucocytozoon species research are discussed, and possible approaches are suggested to resolve some issues that have limited practical parasitological studies of these pathogens.
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Evidence for strain-specific virulence of Trichomonas gallinae in African columbiformes. Parasitology 2023; 150:206-211. [PMID: 36529856 PMCID: PMC10090629 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Infection by parasites or pathogens can have marked physiological impacts on individuals. In birds, infection may affect moult and feather growth, which is an energetically demanding time in the annual cycle. Previous work has suggested a potential link between clinically visible Trichomonas gallinae infection and wing length in turtle doves Streptopelia turtur arriving on breeding grounds. First, T. gallinae infection was characterized in 149 columbids from 5 species, sampled on turtle dove wintering grounds in Senegal during the moulting period, testing whether infection by T. gallinae is linked to moult. Trichomonas gallinae prevalence was 100%, so rather than testing for differences between infected and uninfected birds, we tested for differences in moult progression between birds infected by different T. gallinae strains. Twelve strains of T. gallinae were characterized at the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)/5.8S/ITS2 region, of which 6 were newly identified within this study. In turtle doves only, evidence for differences in wing length by strain was found, with birds infected by strain Tcl-1 having wings nearly 6 mm longer than those infected with strain GEO. No evidence was found for an effect of strain identity within species on moult progression, but comparisons between infected and uninfected birds should be further investigated in species where prevalence is lower.
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Chavarría X, Matta NE, Cadena-Ortíz H, Alarcón I, Bahamonde-Vinueza D, González AD, Bonaccorso E. Haemosporidian parasites in the ash-breasted Sierra finch ( Geospizopsis plebejus): insights from an Andean dry forest population. Parasitology 2022; 150:1-14. [PMID: 36345570 PMCID: PMC10090645 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Haemosporidian genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon, responsible for avian malarial infections, are highly diverse and have a wide range of health effects and predictors, depending on the host and its environmental context. Here, we present, for the first time, detailed information on the identity, prevalence and parasitaemia of haemosporidians and other haemoparasites that infect the ash-breasted Sierra finch, Geospizopsis plebejus, in an Andean dry forest. We study the consequences of infection in the host body and health conditions and explore the environmental and intrinsic factors that influence infection status and parasitaemia. We conducted diagnoses by cytochrome b (cytb) sequencing and morphological identification, and estimated the levels of parasitaemia based on microscopy. We identified 6 cytb lineages infecting G. plebejus. Two of them were new lineages: Haemoproteus sp. GEPLE01 and GEPLE02. We also detected Haemoproteus sp. ZOCAP08, Haemoproteus sp. AMAVIR01, Plasmodium homopolare BAEBIC02 and Plasmodium cathemerium ZONCAP15. By microscopy, we detected Haemoproteus coatneyi, Haemoproteus erythrogravidus, P. homopolare and other unidentified species of Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Babesia sp. and 1 microfilaria. We found no evidence of Leucocytozoon. Additionally, we detected several coinfections by sequencing and microscopy. The prevalence of haemosporidian infections was high (87.7%), and the mean parasitaemia was 61.65 infected cells per 10 000 erythrocytes examined. Prevalence and parasitaemia were higher for Haemoproteus than for Plasmodium. Haemoproteus sp. AMAVIR01 showed the highest prevalence (43.1%) and mean parasitaemia (94.39/10 000 erythrocytes) and might be associated with H. coatneyi. Immature individuals showed a lower prevalence than adults, supporting previous findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Chavarría
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto Biósfera y Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Nubia E. Matta
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Héctor Cadena-Ortíz
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, Quito EC170301, Ecuador
| | - Ibeth Alarcón
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, Quito EC170301, Ecuador
- Universidad Central del Ecuador, Av. Universitaria, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Daniela Bahamonde-Vinueza
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, Quito EC170301, Ecuador
| | - Angie D. González
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Elisa Bonaccorso
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto Biósfera y Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, Quito EC170301, Ecuador
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4
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Hasik AZ, Siepielski AM. Parasitism shapes selection by drastically reducing host fitness and increasing host fitness variation. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220323. [PMID: 36321430 PMCID: PMC9627441 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining the effects of parasites on host reproduction is key to understanding how parasites affect the underpinnings of selection on hosts. Although infection is expected to be costly, reducing mean fitness, infection could also increase variation in fitness costs among hosts, both of which determine the potential for selection on hosts. To test these ideas, we used a phylogenetically informed meta-analysis of 118 studies to examine how changes in the mean and variance in the outcome of reproduction differed between parasitized and non-parasitized hosts. We found that parasites had severe negative effects on mean fitness, with parasitized hosts suffering reductions in fecundity, viability and mating success. Parasite infection also increased variance in reproduction, particularly fecundity and offspring viability. Surprisingly, parasites had similar effects on viability when either the male or female was parasitized. These results not only provide the first synthetic, comparative, and quantitative summary of the strong deleterious effects of parasites on host reproductive fitness, but also reveal a consistent role for parasites in shaping the opportunity for selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Z. Hasik
- Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, SCEN 601, 850 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Adam M. Siepielski
- Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, SCEN 601, 850 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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5
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Morel AP, Webster A, Prusch F, Anicet M, Marsicano G, Trainini G, Stocker J, Giani D, Bandarra PM, da Rocha MIS, Zitelli LC, Umeno KA, Souza UA, Dall'Agnol B, Reck J. Molecular detection and phylogenetic relationship of Haemosporida parasites in free-ranging wild raptors from Brazil. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 23:100521. [PMID: 33678376 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The order Haemosporida is widely distributed parasitizing members of the Aves class. In birds of prey, infection with Plasmodium spp. parasites varies from an apathogenic form to a clinical syndrome. However, studies on Haemosporida in raptors from the neotropical region are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate natural infection by Plasmodium spp., Haemoproteus spp. and Leucocytozoon spp. in free-ranging wild raptors from southern Brazil. For this, we sampled 206 individuals of 21 species: 94 live-trapped Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus) and 112 raptors from other species that were brought to rehabilitation centers. The presence of infection was investigated using a nested-PCR for Haemosporida performed on blood samples. Overall, 56 out of 206 birds were positive for Plasmodium spp./Haemoproteus spp. Twenty-two percent (21/94) of the C. plancus samples were positive. Of the 112 wild raptors rescued, 31% (35/112) of those belonging to 15 other species tested positive. No sample was positive for Leucocytozoon spp. Herein, we demonstrated nine lineages of Haemosporidian parasites (eight Plasmodium sp. and one Haemoproteus sp.) in free-living species of Brazilian birds of prey, being six of them potential novel lineages. It suggests that information currently available on South-American haemosporidian from these birds greatly underestimate the potential lineage diversity in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Morel
- Centro de Pequisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000 Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Anelise Webster
- Centro de Pequisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000 Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fabiane Prusch
- Clinica Veterinária Toca dos Bichos, Marechal José Inácio da Silva, 404 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marina Anicet
- Clinica Veterinária Toca dos Bichos, Marechal José Inácio da Silva, 404 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gleide Marsicano
- Clinica Veterinária Toca dos Bichos, Marechal José Inácio da Silva, 404 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Trainini
- Hayabusa Consultoria Ambiental, Estrada da Carapina, 1001 São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Julian Stocker
- Hayabusa Consultoria Ambiental, Estrada da Carapina, 1001 São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Denise Giani
- Hayabusa Consultoria Ambiental, Estrada da Carapina, 1001 São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Paulo Mota Bandarra
- Núcleo de Rabilitação de Fauna Silvestre-NURFS, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL), Campus Universitário, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Larissa Caló Zitelli
- Centro de Pequisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000 Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Karen Akemi Umeno
- Centro de Pequisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000 Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ugo Araújo Souza
- Centro de Pequisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000 Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Bruno Dall'Agnol
- Centro de Pequisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000 Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - José Reck
- Centro de Pequisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000 Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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6
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Valdebenito JO, Liker A, Halimubieke N, Figuerola J, Székely T. Mortality cost of sex-specific parasitism in wild bird populations. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20983. [PMID: 33268803 PMCID: PMC7710712 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77410-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-specific mortality is frequent in animals although the causes of different male versus female mortalities remain poorly understood. Parasitism is ubiquitous in nature with widespread detrimental effects to hosts, making parasitism a likely cause of sex-specific mortalities. Using sex-specific blood and gastrointestinal parasite prevalence from 96 and 54 avian host species, respectively, we test the implications of parasites for annual mortality in wild bird populations using phylogenetic comparative methods. First, we show that parasite prevalence is not different between adult males and females, although Nematodes showed a statistically significant but small male-biased parasite prevalence. Second, we found no correlation between sex-biased host mortalities and sex-biased parasite prevalence. These results were consistent in both blood and gastrointestinal parasites. Taken together, our results show little evidence for sex-dependent parasite prevalence in adults in wild bird populations, and suggest that parasite prevalence is an unlikely predictor of sex difference in adult mortalities, not withstanding sampling limitations. We propose that to understand causes of sex-biased mortalities, more complex analyses are needed that incorporate various ecological and life history components of animals life that may include sex differences in exposure to predators, immune capacity and cost of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- José O Valdebenito
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - András Liker
- MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary.,Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Naerhulan Halimubieke
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Seville, Spain
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK. .,Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
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7
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Barino GTM, Rossi MF, de Oliveira L, Reis Junior JL, D'Agosto M, Dias RJP. Haemoproteus syrnii (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in owls from Brazil: morphological and molecular characterization, potential cryptic species, and exo-erythrocytic stages. Parasitol Res 2020; 120:243-255. [PMID: 33169308 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06958-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Haemoproteus syrnii is a haemosporidian parasite found in owls. Although morphological and molecular data on the species is available, its exo-erythrocytic development was never researched. In this study, we provide the morphological, morphometric, and molecular characterization of H. syrnii populations found in owl species from Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil. We also characterized the coalescent species delimitation based on the molecular and histopathology data. Samples from 54 owls from six different species were analyzed, generating 11 sequences of the cyt b gene, from which six were new sequences. The overall prevalence of infection was high (72.22%). The H. syrnii sequences were grouped into two well-supported independent clades, which included other Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) species. This was supported by both the coalescent species delimitation analysis and by the genetic divergence between lineages of these distinct clades. There were small morphological and morphometric differences within the population presented in this study. However, when compared with other studies, the molecular analysis demonstrated considerable intraspecific variation and suggests potential cryptic species. The histopathological analysis revealed, for the first time, that lungs and skeletal muscle are exo-erythrocytic stage location of H. syrnii, and that the parasite is linked to the histopathological changes found in owls. This study brings new data from Haemoproteus species biology and host infection, and improves host-parasite relationship understanding under an owl conservation perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glauber Thiago Martins Barino
- Laboratório de Protozoologia (LabProto), LAZ, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Mariana Fonseca Rossi
- Laboratório de Protozoologia (LabProto), LAZ, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Luísa de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Protozoologia (LabProto), LAZ, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Janildo Ludolf Reis Junior
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Marta D'Agosto
- Laboratório de Protozoologia (LabProto), LAZ, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto Júnio Pedroso Dias
- Laboratório de Protozoologia (LabProto), LAZ, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, 36036-900, Brazil.
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8
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Charpentier MJE, Boundenga L, Beaulieu M, Dibakou SE, Arnathau C, Sidobre C, Willaume E, Mercier-Delarue S, Simon F, Rougeron V, Prugnolle F. A longitudinal molecular study of the ecology of malaria infections in free-ranging mandrills. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 10:241-251. [PMID: 31667087 PMCID: PMC6812016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Unravelling the determinants of host variation in susceptibility and exposure to parasite infections, infection dynamics and the consequences of parasitism on host health is of paramount interest to understand the evolution of complex host-parasite interactions. In this study, we evaluated the determinants, temporal changes and physiological correlates of Plasmodium infections in a large natural population of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx). Over six consecutive years, we obtained detailed parasitological and physiological data from 100 male and female mandrills of all ages. The probability of infection by Plasmodium gonderi and P. mandrilli was elevated (ca. 40%) but most infections were chronical and dynamic, with several cases of parasite switching and clearance. Positive co-infections also occurred between both parasites. Individual age and sex influenced the probability of infections with some differences between parasites: while P. mandrilli appeared to infect its hosts rather randomly, P. gonderi particularly infected middle-aged mandrills. Males were also more susceptible to P. gonderi than females and were more likely to be infected by this parasite at the beginning of an infection by the simian immunodeficiency virus. P. gonderi, and to a lesser extent P. mandrilli, influenced mandrills’ physiology: skin temperatures and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were both impacted, generally depending on individual age and sex. These results highlight the ecological complexity of Plasmodium infections in nonhuman primates and the efforts that need to be done to decipher the epidemiology of such parasites. Longitudinal epidemiological and physiological data on Plasmodium infection obtained from a wild primate population. Elevated chronical infections by two species of Plasmodium. Contrasted dynamics of infection and physiological effects of P. gonderi and P. mandrilli. Elevated parasitaemia (P. gonderi) in male mandrills in primo-infection by the simian immunodeficiency virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J E Charpentier
- Institut des Sciences de L'Evolution de Montpellier UMR 5554, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - L Boundenga
- Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon
| | - M Beaulieu
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,German Oceanographic Museum, Stralsund, Germany
| | - S E Dibakou
- Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, Franceville, Gabon
| | - C Arnathau
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle UMR, 224-5290, Montpellier, France
| | - C Sidobre
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle UMR, 224-5290, Montpellier, France
| | - E Willaume
- Société D'Exploitation Du Parc de La Lékédi, Bakoumba, Gabon
| | - S Mercier-Delarue
- Département des Agents Infectieux, Hôpital Saint Louis, Faculté de Médecine Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - F Simon
- Département des Agents Infectieux, Hôpital Saint Louis, Faculté de Médecine Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - V Rougeron
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle UMR, 224-5290, Montpellier, France
| | - F Prugnolle
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle UMR, 224-5290, Montpellier, France
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9
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Teffer AK, Miller KM. A Comparison of Nonlethal and Destructive Methods for Broad-Based Infectious Agent Screening of Chinook Salmon Using High-Throughput qPCR. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2019; 31:274-289. [PMID: 31343778 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Molecular tools, such as high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR), are useful for monitoring multiple infectious agents in wild animal populations (i.e., broad-based screening). If destructive tissue samples cannot be obtained due to experimental design requirements (e.g., bio-telemetry; holding with repeated biopsy) or the conservation status of host species, then nonlethally sampled tissues can be substituted. However, infection profiles have been found to differ between nonlethally and destructively sampled tissues. We present a comparative analysis of nonlethal (gill and blood) and destructive (pool of internal and external tissue) approaches for broad-based infectious agent screening of adult Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Of a possible 47 agents, 16 were detected overall by nonlethal and destructive methods. Our results indicated moderate differences in infection profiles among tissues, with limitations of each tissue type dependent on the ecology of each agent. The gill was the most comprehensive screening tissue, as more infectious agents were detected overall in gill (n = 16) than in blood (n = 12) or multi-tissue pools (n = 15). The agreement in the estimated agent prevalence between tissue types ranged from poor to excellent, while overall agent community structure (the combined prevalence of all agents) showed low agreement between tissue types. Two agents occurred at 100% prevalence in all tissue types. Nine agents, including types of bacteria and gill parasites, were more prevalent in gill than in blood, while five agents, including one virus and several microparasites, were more prevalent in blood. Future studies should pair microscopy and histopathology with HT-qPCR to better characterize host health and disease development relative to molecular detection of agents across tissue types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K Teffer
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Post Office Box 1700, Station CSC, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Kristina M Miller
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Molecular Genetics Section, Pacific Biological Station, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 6N7, Canada
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10
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Sumasgutner P, Terraube J, Coulon A, Villers A, Chakarov N, Kruckenhauser L, Korpimäki E. Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator. Front Zool 2019; 16:31. [PMID: 31406493 PMCID: PMC6683578 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-019-0331-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Selecting high-quality habitat and the optimal time to reproduce can increase individual fitness and is a strong evolutionary factor shaping animal populations. However, few studies have investigated the interplay between land cover heterogeneity, limitation in food resources, individual quality and spatial variation in fitness parameters. Here, we explore how individuals of different quality respond to possible mismatches between a cue for prey availability (land cover heterogeneity) and the actual fluctuating prey abundance. Results We analyse timing of breeding and reproductive success in a migratory population of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) breeding in nest-boxes, over a full three-year abundance cycle of main prey (voles), and consider several components of individual quality, including body condition, blood parasite infection, and genetic diversity (n = 448 adults) that act on different time scales. Older individuals, and kestrel parents in higher body condition started egg-laying earlier than younger birds and those in lower body condition. Additionally, egg-laying was initiated earlier during the increase and decrease phases (2011 and 2012) than during the low phase of the vole cycle (2013). Nestling survival (ratio of eggs that fledged successfully) was higher in early nests and in heterogeneous landscapes (i.e., mosaic of different habitat types), which was evident during the increase and decrease phases of the vole cycle, but not during the low vole year. Conclusions We found a strong positive effect of landscape heterogeneity on nestling survival, but only when voles were relatively abundant, whereas a difference in the timing of breeding related to territory landscape heterogeneity was not evident. Therefore, landscape heterogeneity appeared as the main driver of high reproductive performance under favourable food conditions. Our results show that landscape homogenization linked to agricultural intensification disrupts the expected positive effect of vole abundance on reproductive success of kestrels. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12983-019-0331-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Sumasgutner
- 1Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,2Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,3FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Julien Terraube
- 1Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,4Global Change and Conservation Lab. Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aurélie Coulon
- 5CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France.,6Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Villers
- ONCFS, Unité Avifaune Migratrice, Station de Chizé, 405 route de Prissé-la-Charrière, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Nayden Chakarov
- 8Department of Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,9Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Luise Kruckenhauser
- Museum of Natural History Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
| | - Erkki Korpimäki
- 1Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Antonini Y, Lobato DNC, Norte AC, Ramos JA, Moreira PDA, Braga EM. Patterns of avian malaria in tropical and temperate environments: testing the "The enemy release hypothesis". BIOTA NEOTROPICA 2019. [DOI: 10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2018-0716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract: According to the enemy release hypothesis (ERH) the spread of invasive species will be facilitated by release from their enemies as they occupy new areas. However, the ERH has rarely been tested by comparing populations of native (non-invasive, long established) species with expanding or shifting ranges, to the same species as invasive in another area. We tested the ERH with respect to blood parasite levels (prevalence and intensity of Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp.) of (a) two closely related, widely distributed species of thrush (Turdus leucomelas and T. merula), and (b) an invasive sparrow (Passer domesticus) whose range has expanded from the Old World to the New World since the 18th century. A total of 158 birds were sampled in Portugal and 99 in Brazil. All bird species were parasitized, and 55% of the individuals collected were parasitized, and the mean intensity of infection was of 28 parasites per 10,000 erythrocytes. We assessed whether differences in levels of infection (prevalence and intensity) were due to site (tropical/New World and temperate/Old World) or host species. The ERH was supported: Passer domesticus and Turdus merula had higher levels of parasitism in the Old World than in the New World. Thus, P. domesticus seems to be benefitting from its "recent" range expansion, compared to T. leucomelas, through ecological release from its native parasites and because the parasites of the recently invaded area seem to be infesting native species instead.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jaime A. Ramos
- Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal; Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
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Niedringhaus KD, Fenton HMA, Cleveland CA, Anderson AN, Schwartz D, Alex CE, Rogers KH, Mete A, Yabsley MJ. Case Series: Virulent hemosporidiosis infections in juvenile great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) from Louisiana and California, USA. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 12:49-54. [PMID: 31014809 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A total of eight juvenile great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) were found lethargic and on the ground in spring 2015, 2016, and 2017, including one fledgling from Louisiana, USA and seven nestlings from California, USA. One bird survived to release after rehabilitation; seven birds died or were euthanized due to poor prognosis and were necropsied. Necropsy findings were similar and included general pallor of all tissues, particularly the subcutis and lungs, and enlarged liver and spleen. Histopathology revealed multi-organ necrosis, abundant meronts containing merozoites, and intracytoplasmic pigmented haemosporidian parasites in blood cells in one bird. Leucocytozoon lineages lSTOCC16 and BUVIR06 were identified by polymerase chain reaction and genetic sequencing. The systemic Leucocytozoon infections were likely associated with morbidity and mortality in these owls. A second parasite, Haemoproteus lineage hSTVAR01, was also identified in an owl from Louisiana. This is the first identification of Leucocytozoon lineages that have been associated with mortality in young great horned owls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Niedringhaus
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Heather M A Fenton
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Christopher A Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - A Nikki Anderson
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
| | - Diana Schwartz
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Charles E Alex
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Krysta H Rogers
- Wildlife Investigations Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1701 Nimbus Road, Suite D, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, USA.
| | - Aslι Mete
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California - Davis, 620 W. Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA 95616-5270, USA.
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E Green Street, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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13
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Merilä J, Andersson M. Reproductive effort and success are related to haematozoan infections in blue tits. ECOSCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.1999.11682542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Korpimäki E, Tolonen P, Bennett GF. Blood parasites, sexual selection and reproductive success of European kestrels. ECOSCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.1995.11682301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Malmqvist B, Adler PH, Kuusela K, Merritt RW, Wotton RS. Black flies in the boreal biome, key organisms in both terrestrial and aquatic environments: A review. ECOSCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2004.11682824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Fargallo JA, Merino S. Clutch size and haemoparasite species richness in adult and nestling blue tits. ECOSCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2004.11682821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Calero-Riestra M, García JT. Sex-dependent differences in avian malaria prevalence and consequences of infections on nestling growth and adult condition in the Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris. Malar J 2016; 15:178. [PMID: 27001667 PMCID: PMC4802721 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1220-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasites play pivotal roles in host population dynamics and can have strong ecological impacts on hosts. Knowledge of the effects of parasites on hosts is often limited by the general observation of a fraction of individuals (mostly adults) within a population. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malaria parasites in adult (≥ 1 year old) and nestling (7-11 day old) Tawny pipits Anthus campestris, to evaluate the influence of the host sex on parasite prevalence in both groups of age, and explore the association between infections and body condition (adults) and growth (nestlings). METHODS Two hundred Tawny pipits (105 adults and 95 nestlings) from one Spanish population were screened for avian malaria parasites (Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. Body condition (body mass against a linear measure of size) was measured in adults and growth rate (daily mass gain) was calculated for nestlings. RESULTS The overall prevalence of infection was 46%. Sixteen different mitochondrial cytochrome b haplotypes of Plasmodium spp. and one Haemoproteus spp. haplotype were found. Malaria parasites were equally prevalent in nestlings and adults (45 and 46%, respectively). Males were more likely to be infected by parasites than females, and this sex-bias parasitism was evident in both adults and nestlings. Furthermore, a lower daily mass gain during nestling growth in males than in females following infections were found, whereas the effect of infections on body condition of adults was detrimental for females but not for males. CONCLUSIONS Age-specific differences in physiological trade-offs and ecological factors, such as nest predation would explain, at least in part, the observed host sex and age-related patterns in Tawny pipits.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Calero-Riestra
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Jesus T García
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
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Haemosporidian infections in the Tengmalm's Owl (Aegolius funereus) and potential insect vectors of their transmission. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:291-8. [PMID: 26365667 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4745-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Sedentary bird species are suitable model hosts for identifying potential vectors of avian blood parasites. We studied haemosporidian infections in the Tengmalm's Owl (Aegolius funereus) in the Ore Mountains of the Czech Republic using molecular detection methods. Sex of owl nestlings was scored using molecular sexing based on fragment analysis of PCR-amplified CHD1 introns. Observed infection prevalences in nestlings and adult owls were 51 and 86 %, respectively. Five parasite lineages were detected. Most of the infections comprised the Leucocytozoon AEFUN02 and STOCC06 lineages that probably refer to distinct Leucocytozoon species. Other lineages were detected only sporadically. Mixed infections were found in 49 % of samples. The main factor affecting the probability of infection was host age. No effect of individual sex on infection probability was evidenced. The youngest infected nestling was 12 days old. High parasite prevalence in the Tengmalm's Owl nestlings suggests that insect vectors must enter nest boxes to transmit parasites before fledging. Hence, we placed sticky insect traps into modified nest boxes, collected potential insect vectors, and examined them for the presence of haemosporidian parasites using molecular detection. We trapped 201 insects which were determined as biting midges from the Culicoides genus and two black fly species, Simulium (Nevermannia) vernum and Simulium (Eusimulium) angustipes. Six haemosporidian lineages were detected in the potential insect vectors, among which the Leucocytozoon lineage BT2 was common to the Tengmalm's Owl and the trapped insects. However, we have not detected the most frequently encountered Tengmalm's Owl Leucocytozoon lineages AEFUN02 and STOCC06 in insects.
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Abstract
The impact of haematozoan infection on host fitness has received substantial attention since Hamilton and Zuk posited that parasites are important drivers of sexual selection. However, short-term studies testing the assumption that these parasites consistently reduce host fitness in the wild have produced contradictory results. To address this complex issue, we conducted a long-term study examining the relationship between naturally occurring infection with Haemoproteus and Plasmodium, and lifetime reproductive success and survival of Mountain White-crowned Sparrows. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that birds infected with haematozoan parasites have reduced survival (as determined by overwinter return rates) and reproductive success. Contrary to expectation, there was no relationship between Haemoproteus and Plasmodium infection and reproduction or survival in males, nor was there a relationship between Plasmodium infection and reproduction in females. Interestingly, Haemoproteus-infected females had significantly higher overwinter return rates and these females fledged more than twice as many chicks during their lifetimes as did uninfected females. We discuss the impact of parasitic infections on host fitness in light of these findings and suggest that, in the case of less virulent pathogens, investment in excessive immune defence may decrease lifetime reproduction.
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20
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Lewicki KE, Huyvaert KP, Piaggio AJ, Diller LV, Franklin AB. Effects of barred owl (Strix varia) range expansion on Haemoproteus parasite assemblage dynamics and transmission in barred and northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina). Biol Invasions 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-014-0828-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Larrat S, Dallaire AD, Lair S. Emaciation and larval filarioid nematode infection in boreal owls (Aegolius funereus). Avian Pathol 2014; 41:345-9. [PMID: 22834547 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2012.688940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Microfilariae are considered non-pathogenic in wild birds. The objective of the current communication is to report host reactions to microfilarial infection of unusual intensity in emaciated boreal owls (Aegolius funereus). An unusually large number of boreal owls (n = 21) were submitted to the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Center-Quebec Region for post-mortem examination during the winter of 2009. Nineteen out of 21 birds were considered emaciated based on atrophy of adipose tissue and pectoral muscles and suboptimal weight. A microscopic examination of a subset of nine owls revealed the presence of microfilariae in six owls. Three of the birds with a heavy parasite burden had masses of larval nematodes obstructing large vessels of the lungs. The emaciated owls are believed to have died from starvation due to a cyclic decrease in prey abundance in the boreal forest. This cycle also drives winter movements of boreal owls to urbanized areas of southern Quebec, presumably accounting for the large number of birds submitted in 2009. In the most severely infected owls, the extreme microfilarial burden might have caused an alteration in circulatory dynamics, gaseous exchanges and also probably some metabolic cost. Consequently, microfilariae could have significantly contributed to the death of some of these owls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Larrat
- Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Center/Centre Québécois sur la Santé des Animaux Sauvages, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, St. Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
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Distribution, prevalence and host specificity of avian malaria parasites across the breeding range of the migratory lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus). Genetica 2014; 142:235-49. [PMID: 24880788 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-014-9770-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) is a ground-nesting passerine that breeds across much of the central North American steppe and sand barrens. Through genotyping and sequencing of avian malaria parasites we examined levels of malaria prevalence and determined the distribution of Haemoproteus and Plasmodium lineages across the breeding range of the lark sparrow. Analysis of 365 birds collected from five breeding locations revealed relatively high levels of malaria prevalence in adults (80 %) and juveniles (46 %), with infections being primarily of Haemoproteus (91 % of sequenced samples). Levels of genetic diversity and genetic structure of malaria parasites with respect to the avian host populations revealed distinct patterns for Haemoproteus and Plasmodium, most likely as a result of their distinct life histories, host specificity, and transmission vectors. With the exception of one common Haemoproteus haplotype detected in all populations, all other haplotypes were either population-specific or shared by two to three populations. A hierarchical analysis of molecular variance of Haemoproteus sequences revealed that 15-18 % of the genetic variation can be explained by differences among host populations/locations (p < 0.001). In contrast to the regional patterns of genetic differentiation detected for the lark sparrow populations, Haemoproteus parasites showed high levels of population-specific variation and no significant differences among regions, which suggests that the population dynamics of the parasites may be driven by evolutionary processes operating at small spatial scales (e.g., at the level of host populations). These results highlight the potential effects of host population structure on the demographic and evolutionary dynamics of parasites.
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Bichet C, Sorci G, Robert A, Julliard R, Lendvai AZ, Chastel O, Garnier S, Loiseau C. Epidemiology of Plasmodium relictum infection in the house sparrow. J Parasitol 2013; 100:59-65. [PMID: 23987473 DOI: 10.1645/12-24.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In vertebrates, multiple host characteristics and environmental factors are known to influence infectious disease dynamics. Here, we investigated variability in prevalence and parasitemia of Plasmodium relictum in the house sparrow ( Passer domesticus ) across a large number of rural and urban populations (n = 16). We found that prevalence was not predicted by any of the host traits investigated (age, sex, body mass, or wing length). However, parasitemia was significantly higher in females when compared to males and in 1-yr-olds as compared to older individuals. Neither prevalence nor parasitemia differed according to habitat type (urban vs. rural). These results suggest that inter-population variation in parasitemia depends on host intrinsic factors whereas variation in prevalence could be due to environmental differences between populations, such as climatic variables that might affect the abundance of vectors. This large-scale study gives us a better understanding of the key factors involved in the epidemiology of avian malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coraline Bichet
- Biogéosciences, CNRS UMR 6282, Université de Bourgogne, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France
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Motta ROC, Romero Marques MV, Ferreira Junior FC, Andery DDA, Horta RS, Peixoto RB, Lacorte GA, Moreira PDA, Paes Leme FDO, Melo MM, Martins NRDS, Braga ÉM. Does haemosporidian infection affect hematological and biochemical profiles of the endangered Black-fronted piping-guan (Aburria jacutinga)? PeerJ 2013; 1:e45. [PMID: 23638382 PMCID: PMC3628922 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 02/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases can cause deleterious effects on bird species, leading to population decline and extinction. Haemosporidia can be recognized by their negative effects on host fitness, including reproductive success and immune responses. In captivity, outbreaks of haemosporidian infection have been observed in birds in zoos and aviaries. The endemic Brazilian Atlantic rainforest species Aburria jacutinga is one of the most endangered species in the Cracidae family, and wild populations of this species are currently found mainly in conservation areas in only two Brazilian states. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of avian haemosporidia on hematological and biochemical parameters in two captive populations of A. jacutinga. Forty-two animals were assessed, and the haemosporidian prevalence was similar for males and females. The occurrence of haemosporidian infection in captive A. jacutinga observed in this study was similar to results found in other captive and wild birds in Brazil. We found three different lineages of haemosporidia. Two lineages were identified as Plasmodium sp., one of which was previously detected in Europe and Asia, and the other is a new lineage closely related to P. gallinaceum. A new third lineage was identified as Haemoproteus sp. We found no significant differences in hematological and biochemical values between infected and non-infected birds, and the haemosporidian lineage did not seem to have an impact on the clinical and physiological parameters of A. jacutinga. This is the first report on an evaluation of natural haemosporidian infections diagnosed by microscopic and molecular methods in A. jacutinga by hematology, blood biochemistry, and serum protein values. Determining physiological parameters, occurrence and an estimation of the impact of haemosporidia in endangered avian species may contribute to the management of species rehabilitation and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Otávio Cançado Motta
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinícius Romero Marques
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Francisco Carlos Ferreira Junior
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Danielle de Assis Andery
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Santos Horta
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Renata Barbosa Peixoto
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Augusto Lacorte
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Patrícia de Abreu Moreira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Fabíola de Oliveira Paes Leme
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marília Martins Melo
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Nelson Rodrigo da Silva Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Jonsson M, Strasevicius D, Malmqvist B. Influences of river regulation and environmental variables on upland bird assemblages in northern Sweden. Ecol Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s11284-012-0974-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Lachish S, Knowles SCL, Alves R, Wood MJ, Sheldon BC. Infection dynamics of endemic malaria in a wild bird population: parasite species-dependent drivers of spatial and temporal variation in transmission rates. J Anim Ecol 2011; 80:1207-16. [PMID: 21848864 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01893.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
1. Investigating the ecological context in which host-parasite interactions occur and the roles of biotic and abiotic factors in forcing infection dynamics is essential to understanding disease transmission, spread and maintenance. 2. Despite their prominence as model host-pathogen systems, the relative influence of environmental heterogeneity and host characteristics in influencing the infection dynamics of avian blood parasites has rarely been assessed in the wild, particularly at a within-population scale. 3. We used a novel multievent modelling framework (an extension of multistate mark-recapture modelling) that allows for uncertainty in disease state, to estimate transmission parameters and assess variation in the infection dynamics of avian malaria in a large, longitudinally sampled data set of breeding blue tits infected with two divergent species of Plasmodium parasites. 4. We found striking temporal and spatial heterogeneity in the disease incidence rate and the likelihood of recovery within this single population and demonstrate marked differences in the relative influence of environmental and host factors in forcing the infection dynamics of the two Plasmodium species. 5. Proximity to a permanent water source greatly influenced the transmission rates of P. circumflexum, but not of P. relictum, suggesting that these parasites are transmitted by different vectors. 6. Host characteristics (age/sex) were found to influence infection rates but not recovery rates, and their influence on infection rates was also dependent on parasite species: P. relictum infection rates varied with host age, whilst P. circumflexum infection rates varied with host sex. 7. Our analyses reveal that transmission of endemic avian malaria is a result of complex interactions between biotic and abiotic components that can operate on small spatial scales and demonstrate that knowledge of the drivers of spatial and temporal heterogeneity in disease transmission will be crucial for developing accurate epidemiological models and a thorough understanding of the evolutionary implications of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelly Lachish
- Department of Zoology, Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
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Lachish S, Knowles SCL, Alves R, Wood MJ, Sheldon BC. Fitness effects of endemic malaria infections in a wild bird population: the importance of ecological structure. J Anim Ecol 2011; 80:1196-206. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01836.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Edler R, Klump G, Friedl T. Do blood parasites affect reproductive performance in male red bishops (Euplectes orix)? A test of the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2010. [DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2004.9522623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Edler
- a Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg , Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, AG Zoophysiologie & Verhalten , Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, Postfach 2503, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - G.M. Klump
- a Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg , Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, AG Zoophysiologie & Verhalten , Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, Postfach 2503, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - T.W.P. Friedl
- a Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg , Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, AG Zoophysiologie & Verhalten , Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, Postfach 2503, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
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29
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Wiehn J, Korpimáki E, Bildstein KL, Sorjonen J. Mate Choice and Reproductive Success in the American Kestrel: a Role for Blood Parasites? Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1997.tb00020.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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30
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Knowles SCL, Palinauskas V, Sheldon BC. Chronic malaria infections increase family inequalities and reduce parental fitness: experimental evidence from a wild bird population. J Evol Biol 2010; 23:557-69. [PMID: 20070458 DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01920.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium) occur commonly in wild birds and are an increasingly popular model system for understanding host-parasite co-evolution. However, whether these parasites have fitness consequences for hosts in endemic areas is much debated, particularly since wild-caught individuals almost always harbour chronic infections of very low parasite density. We used the anti-malarial drug Malarone to test experimentally for fitness effects of chronic malaria infection in a wild population of breeding blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Medication caused a pronounced reduction in Plasmodium infection intensity, usually resulting in complete clearance of these parasites from the blood, as revealed by quantitative PCR. Positive effects of medication on malaria-infected birds were found at multiple stages during breeding, with medicated females showing higher hatching success, provisioning rates and fledging success compared to controls. Most strikingly, we found that treatment of maternal malaria infections strongly altered within-family differences, with reduced inequality in hatching probability and fledging mass within broods reared by medicated females. These within-brood effects appear to explain higher fledging success among medicated females and are consistent with a model of parental optimism in which smaller (marginal) offspring can be successfully raised to independence if additional resources become available during the breeding attempt. Overall, these results demonstrate that chronic avian malaria infections, far from being benign, can have significant effects on host fitness and may thus constitute an important selection pressure in wild bird populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C L Knowles
- Department of Zoology, Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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31
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Factors associated with the geographic distribution of leucocytozoa parasitizing nestling eagle owls (Bubo bubo): a local spatial-scale analysis. CONSERV GENET 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-009-9978-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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32
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Karell P, Pietiäinen H, Siitari H, Pihlaja T, Kontiainen P, Brommer JE. Parental allocation of additional food to own health and offspring growth in a variable environment. CAN J ZOOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1139/z08-133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Life-history theory predicts increased investment in current reproduction when future reproduction is uncertain and a more balanced investment in current and future reproduction when prospects for both are good. The outcome of the balance in parental allocation depends on which life-history component maximizes the fitness benefits. In our study system, a 3-year vole cycle generates good prospects of current and future reproduction for Ural owls ( Strix uralensis Pallas, 1771) in increase vole phases and uncertain prospects in decrease vole phases. We supplementary-fed Ural owls during the nestling period in 2002 (an increase phase) and 2003 (a decrease phase), and measured offspring growth, parental effort, and physiological health by monitoring haematocrit, leucocyte profiles, intra- and inter-celluar blood parasites, and (in 2003) humoral antibody responsiveness. Food supplementation reduced parental feeding rate in both years, but improved a female parent’s health only in 2002 (an increase phase) and had no effects on males in either year. Nevertheless, supplementary-fed offspring reached higher asymptotic mass and fledged earlier in both years. Furthermore, early fledging reduced offspring exposure to blood-sucking black flies (Diptera, Simuliidae) in the nest. We discuss how parental allocation of resources to current and future reproduction may vary under variable food conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Karell
- Bird Ecology Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Evolutionary Research Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Hannu Pietiäinen
- Bird Ecology Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Evolutionary Research Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Heli Siitari
- Bird Ecology Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Evolutionary Research Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tuomo Pihlaja
- Bird Ecology Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Evolutionary Research Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Pekka Kontiainen
- Bird Ecology Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Evolutionary Research Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jon E. Brommer
- Bird Ecology Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Evolutionary Research Unit, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
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33
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Chakarov N, Boerner M, Krüger O. Fitness in common buzzards at the cross-point of opposite melanin-parasite interactions. Funct Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01460.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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34
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Ishak HD, Dumbacher JP, Anderson NL, Keane JJ, Valkiūnas G, Haig SM, Tell LA, Sehgal RNM. Blood parasites in owls with conservation implications for the Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis). PLoS One 2008; 3:e2304. [PMID: 18509541 PMCID: PMC2387065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2008] [Accepted: 04/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The three subspecies of Spotted Owl (Northern, Strix occidentalis caurina; California, S. o. occidentalis; and Mexican, S. o. lucida) are all threatened by habitat loss and range expansion of the Barred Owl (S. varia). An unaddressed threat is whether Barred Owls could be a source of novel strains of disease such as avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.) or other blood parasites potentially harmful for Spotted Owls. Although Barred Owls commonly harbor Plasmodium infections, these parasites have not been documented in the Spotted Owl. We screened 111 Spotted Owls, 44 Barred Owls, and 387 owls of nine other species for haemosporidian parasites (Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium, and Haemoproteus spp.). California Spotted Owls had the greatest number of simultaneous multi-species infections (44%). Additionally, sequencing results revealed that the Northern and California Spotted Owl subspecies together had the highest number of Leucocytozoon parasite lineages (n = 17) and unique lineages (n = 12). This high level of sequence diversity is significant because only one Leucocytozoon species (L. danilewskyi) has been accepted as valid among all owls, suggesting that L. danilewskyi is a cryptic species. Furthermore, a Plasmodium parasite was documented in a Northern Spotted Owl for the first time. West Coast Barred Owls had a lower prevalence of infection (15%) when compared to sympatric Spotted Owls (S. o. caurina 52%, S. o. occidentalis 79%) and Barred Owls from the historic range (61%). Consequently, Barred Owls on the West Coast may have a competitive advantage over the potentially immune compromised Spotted Owls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather D Ishak
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
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35
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Penteriani V, Delgado MDM, Alonso-Álvarez C, Pina NV, Sergio F, Bartolommei P, Thompson LJ. The Importance of Visual Cues for Nocturnal Species: Eagle Owl Fledglings Signal with White Mouth Feathers. Ethology 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01414.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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36
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Gilman S, Blumstein DT, Foufopoulos J. The Effect of Hemosporidian Infections on White-Crowned Sparrow Singing Behavior. Ethology 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2006.01341.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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37
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Garvin MC, Szell CC, Moore FR. Blood parasites of Nearctic-Neotropical migrant passerine birds during spring trans-Gulf migration: impact on host body condition. J Parasitol 2006; 92:990-6. [PMID: 17152939 DOI: 10.1645/ge-758r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that migrants infected with blood parasites arrive on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in poorer condition than uninfected birds, we examined 1705 migrant passerine birds representing 54 species of 11 families from 2 Gulf Coast sites for blood parasites. Three hundred and sixty (21.1%) were infected with 1 or more species of 4 genera of blood parasites. The prevalence of parasites was as follows: Haemoproteus spp. (11.7%), Plasmodium spp. (6.7%), Leucocytozoon spp. (1.3%), and Trypanosoma spp. (1.2%). Both prevalence and density of Haemoproteus spp. infection varied among species. We found no relationship of gender or age with the prevalence of Haemoproteus spp. infection or Plasmodium spp. infection, with the exception of the orchard oriole (Icterus spurius) for which older birds were more likely to be infected with Haemoproteus spp. than younger birds. We also found that scarlet tanagers and summer tanagers infected with species of Haemoproteus have lower fat scores than uninfected individuals and that rose-breasted grosbeaks and Baltimore orioles infected with Haemoproteus spp. have a smaller mean body mass than uninfected individuals. Blood parasites do seem to pose a physiological cost for Neotropical migrant passerines and may be important components of the ecology of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Garvin
- Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 44074, USA.
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38
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García‐ramírez A, Delgado‐garcía JD, Foronda‐rodríguez P, Abreu‐acosta N. Haematozoans, mites and body condition in the oceanic island lizardGallotia atlantica(Peters and Doria, 1882) (Reptilia: Lacertidae). J NAT HIST 2005. [DOI: 10.1080/00222930400015590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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39
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Appleby BM, Anwar MA, Petty SJ. Short‐term and long‐term effects of food supply on parasite burdens in Tawny Owls,
Strix aluco. Funct Ecol 2002. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1999.00319.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. M. Appleby
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK,,
| | - M. A. Anwar
- Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK and,
| | - S. J. Petty
- Forest Research, Woodland Ecology Branch, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY, UK
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40
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Figuerola J, Muñoz E, Gutiérrez R, Ferrer D. Blood parasites, leucocytes and plumage brightness in the Cirl Bunting, Emberiza cirlus. Funct Ecol 2002. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1999.00354.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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41
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Sanz JJ, Arriero E, Moreno J, Merino S. Female Hematozoan Infection Reduces Hatching Success but not Fledging Success in Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2001. [DOI: 10.1093/auk/118.3.750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
We report association between female blood parasite prevalence (percentage of infected birds) just after egg laying and reproductive success in two successive breeding seasons, in a breeding population of Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in central Spain. Females infected with Trypanosoma spp. had a higher probability of deserting their clutches during the incubation period than noninfected females. Females infected with Haemoproteus balmorali hatched proportionally fewer eggs than noninfected females. Female infected with H. balmorali during the incubation period may have a decreased ability to thermoregulate which may affect their incubation capacity. Fledging success, breeding success, fledgling mass, and tarsus length were not associated with infection of the mother by blood parasites during the incubation period, suggesting that females and their mates may compensate during the nestling period for the negative effect of blood parasites during the incubation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J. Sanz
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Arriero
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Moreno
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Merino
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
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42
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Dawson RD, Bortolotti GR. Prevalence and intensity of hematozoan infections in a population of American kestrels. CAN J ZOOL 1999. [DOI: 10.1139/z98-206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Interest in hematozoan parasites has been considerable in recent years, mostly as a result of Hamilton and Zuk's idea that parasites influence the expression of sexually selected traits. However, little is known about the basic patterns of parasitism and the dynamics of host-parasite relationships. We describe the patterns of blood parasitism in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) sampled throughout the breeding seasons of 1994 and 1995, and investigate the influence of several variables on parasite load. Parasite prevalences in kestrels were high, ranging from 75 to 94% depending on the sex of the birds and stage of the breeding season. Prevalence increased with date, indicating either active parasite transmission or relapses of chronic infections. Parasite intensity also increased with date, but these effects were sex- and year-specific. We detected no sex differences in either prevalence or intensity, but prevalences were higher in young (second calendar year) birds than in older birds. Because this effect was evident early in the breeding season, we suggest that it was due to differential recrudescence of chronic infections between age-classes. Food supply had no effect on parasite load. Among birds that were sampled twice in the same year, parasite status remained relatively constant, although some birds acquired infections while others lost them. Change in intensity between samples was dependent on year; nonetheless, intensities remained relatively stable throughout the breeding season. Kestrels sampled in both years had consistent parasite loads. Parasites were detected in only 3% of kestrel nestlings.
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43
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Muñoz E, Ferrer D, Molina R, Adlard RD. Prevalence of haematozoa in birds of prey in Catalonia, north-east Spain. Vet Rec 1999; 144:632-6. [PMID: 10399244 DOI: 10.1136/vr.144.23.632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Blood samples from birds of prey, 95 Strigiformes and 190 Falconiformes, were examined for the presence of haematozoan parasites. The birds had been admitted to a raptor recovery centre in Catalonia, north-east Spain. Parasites were counted in positive smears. A second blood sample was obtained from 99 birds at least seven days after their arrival at the centre. Haematozoa were detected in all seven species of Strigiformes and in nine of 19 species of Falconiformes. The overall prevalences in the two groups were significantly different, 30.5 per cent and 46.3 per cent in the nocturnal and diurnal raptors, respectively. Eleven species of haematozoan parasites were identified. The genus most commonly detected in members of the nocturnal Strigiformes was Leucocytozoon, followed by Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Trypanosoma. In the diurnal Falconiformes only Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus were detected. The highest infection rates were found in Accipiter nisus (sparrow hawks), Accipiter gentilis (goshawks) and Athene noctua (little owls). Relapses were detected in 9 per cent of the birds sampled twice. The highest intensity of infection (6.2 per cent) was observed in a Buteo buteo (buzzard) infected with Haemoproteus.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Muñoz
- Unitat de Parasitologia i Malalties Parasitàries, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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44
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Macdonald DW, Anwar M, Newman C, Woodroffe R, Johnson PJ. Inter-annual differences in the age-related prevalences of Babesia and Trypanosoma parasites of European badgers (Meles meles). J Zool (1987) 1999. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb00193.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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45
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Evans M, Otter A. Fatal combined infection with Haemoproteus noctuae and Leucocytozoon ziemanni in juvenile snowy owls (Nyctea scandiaca). Vet Rec 1998; 143:72-6. [PMID: 9717222 DOI: 10.1136/vr.143.3.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Two juvenile snowy owls (Nyctea scandiaca) died after short episodes of lethargy and anorexia. Postmortem examination of the first was inconclusive but clinical and laboratory examinations on the second owlet revealed a high level of erythrocyte parasitaemia by Haemoproteus noctuae. After a period of intensive nursing and chemotherapy during which it improved clinically and the red cell parasitism decreased, the bird's condition relapsed and it died. Postmortem examination revealed H noctuae infection in addition to heavy red blood cell parasitism by Leucocytozoon ziemanni. Although neither H noctuae nor L ziemanni are generally considered to be pathogenic, their combined presence in the young owl apparently resulted in its death.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Evans
- Fields Veterinary Group, Newport, Monmouthshire
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46
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Wiehn J, Korpimäki E. Resource levels, reproduction and resistance to haematozoan infections. Proc Biol Sci 1998. [DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1998.0419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Wiehn
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FIN–20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Erkki Korpimäki
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FIN–20014 Turku, Finland
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47
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48
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49
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Dale S, Kruszewicz A, Slagsvold T. Effects of blood parasites on sexual and natural selection in the pied flycather. J Zool (1987) 1996. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05401.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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50
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Forbes M, Weatherhead PI, Bennett GE. Blood parasites of blue grouse: variation in prevalence and patterns of interspecific association. Oecologia 1994; 97:520-525. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00325891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/1993] [Accepted: 12/15/1993] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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