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Alabí Córdova AS, Fecchio A, Calchi AC, Dias CM, Machado RZ, André MR. Molecular evidence of Bartonella spp. in tropical wild birds from the Brazilian Pantanal, the largest wetland in South America. Vet Res Commun 2024:10.1007/s11259-024-10341-z. [PMID: 38443588 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10341-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Despite the worldwide occurrence of bartonellae in a broad range of mammal species, in which they usually cause a long-lasting erythrocytic bacteremia, few studies reported Bartonella spp. in avian hosts. The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence and molecular identity of Bartonella spp. infecting birds in the Pantanal wetland, central-western Brazil using a multigene approach. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 517 individuals from 13 avian orders in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Groso do Sul. DNA was extracted from avian blood and 500/517 (96.7%) samples were positive in a conventional PCR targeting the avian β-actin gene. Nineteen (3.8%) out of 500 avian blood samples were positive in a qPCR assay for Bartonella spp. based on the nuoG gene. Among 19 avian blood DNA samples positive in the qPCR for Bartonella spp., 12 were also positive in the qPCR for Bartonella based on the 16S-23S RNA Intergenic region (ITS). In the PCR assays performed for molecular characterization, one 16S rRNA, three ribC, and one nuoG sequences were obtained. Based on BLASTn results, while 1 nuoG, 2 ribC, and 2 ITS sequences showed high identity to Bartonella henselae, one 16S rRNA and 2 ITS showed high similarity to Bartonella machadoae in the sampled birds. Bartonella spp. related to B. henselae and B. machadoae were detected, for the first time, in wild birds from the Brazilian Pantanal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Salvador Alabí Córdova
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução E Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", (FCAV/UNESP), Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N, Zona Rural, São Paulo, Jaboticabal, CEP: 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ana Cláudia Calchi
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução E Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", (FCAV/UNESP), Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N, Zona Rural, São Paulo, Jaboticabal, CEP: 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Clara Morato Dias
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução E Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", (FCAV/UNESP), Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N, Zona Rural, São Paulo, Jaboticabal, CEP: 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução E Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", (FCAV/UNESP), Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N, Zona Rural, São Paulo, Jaboticabal, CEP: 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução E Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", (FCAV/UNESP), Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N, Zona Rural, São Paulo, Jaboticabal, CEP: 14884-900, Brazil.
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Fecchio A, Bell JA, Williams EJ, Dispoto JH, Weckstein JD, de Angeli Dutra D. Co-infection with Leucocytozoon and Other Haemosporidian Parasites Increases with Latitude and Altitude in New World Bird Communities. Microb Ecol 2023; 86:2838-2846. [PMID: 37608162 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02283-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Establishing how environmental gradients and host ecology drive spatial variation in infection rates and diversity of pathogenic organisms is one of the central goals in disease ecology. Here, we identified the predictors of concomitant infection and lineage richness of blood parasites in New Word bird communities. Our multi-level Bayesian models revealed that higher latitudes and elevations played a determinant role in increasing the probability of a bird being co-infected with Leucocytozoon and other haemosporidian parasites. The heterogeneity in both single and co-infection rates was similarly driven by host attributes and temperature, with higher probabilities of infection in heavier migratory host species and at cooler localities. Latitude, elevation, host body mass, migratory behavior, and climate were also predictors of Leucocytozoon lineage richness across the New World avian communities, with decreasing parasite richness at higher elevations, rainy and warmer localities, and in heavier and resident host species. Increased parasite richness was found farther from the equator, confirming a reverse Latitudinal Diversity Gradient pattern for this parasite group. The increased rates of Leucocytozoon co-infection and lineage richness with increased latitude are in opposition with the pervasive assumption that pathogen infection rates and diversity are higher in tropical host communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET - Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina.
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Emily J Williams
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Denali National Park and Preserve, Denali Park, AK, USA
| | - Janice H Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Anjos CC, Bicudo T, Fecchio A, Anciães M, Mathias BS, Chagas CRF, Bell JA, Guimarães LO, Monteiro EF, Kirchgatter K. Prevalence and genetic diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites in islands within a mega hydroelectric dam in the Brazilian Amazon. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2065-2077. [PMID: 37391644 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07906-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The Brazilian Amazon supports an extremely diverse avifauna and serves as the diversification center for avian malaria parasites in South America. Construction of hydroelectric dams can drive biodiversity loss by creating islands incapable of sustaining the bird communities found in intact forest sites. Besides anthropogenic actions, the presence of parasites can also influence the dynamics and structure of bird communities. Avian malaria (Plasmodium) and related haemosporidian parasites (Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) are a globally distributed group of protozoan parasites recovered from all major bird groups. However, no study to date has analyzed the presence of avian haemosporidian parasites in fragmented areas such as land bridge islands formed during artificial flooding following the construction of hydroelectric dams. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and molecular diversity of haemosporidians in bird communities inhabiting artificial islands in the area of the Balbina Hydroelectric Dam. The reservoir area covers 443,700 ha with 3546 islands on the left bank of the Uatumã River known to contain more than 400 bird species. We surveyed haemosporidian infections in blood samples collected from 445 understory birds, belonging to 53 species, 24 families, and 8 orders. Passeriformes represented 95.5% of all analyzed samples. We found a low overall Plasmodium prevalence (2.9%), with 13 positive samples (two Plasmodium elongatum and 11 Plasmodium sp.) belonging to eight lineages. Six of these lineages were previously recorded in the Amazon, whereas two of them are new. Hypocnemis cantator, the Guianan Warbling Antbird, represented 38.5% of all infected individuals, even though it represents only 5.6% of the sampled individuals. Since comparison with Plasmodium prevalence data prior to construction of Balbina is not possible, other studies in artificially flooded areas are imperative to test if anthropogenic flooding may disrupt vector-parasite relationships leading to low Plasmodium prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina C Anjos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Thiago Bicudo
- Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé, AM, 69553-225, Brazil
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET - Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Marina Anciães
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Manaus, AM, 69081-000, Brazil
| | - Bruno S Mathias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | | | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Lilian O Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo, SP, 01027-000, Brazil
| | - Eliana F Monteiro
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo, SP, 01027-000, Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo, SP, 01027-000, Brazil.
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Mathias BDS, Minozzo GA, Biondo AW, Costa JDOJ, Soares HS, Marcili A, Guimarães LDO, Anjos CCD, Santos APD, Riediger IN, Fecchio A, Bueno MG, Pinho JB, Kirchgatter K. Molecular Investigation Confirms Myotis Genus Bats as Common Hosts of Polychromophilus in Brazil. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1531. [PMID: 37375033 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium spp. and some other blood parasites belonging to the order Haemosporida are the focus of many epidemiological studies worldwide. However, haemosporidian parasites from wild animals are largely neglected in scientific research. For example, Polychromophilus parasites, which are exclusive to bats, are described in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, but little is known about their presence and genetic diversity in the New World. In this study, 224 samples of bats from remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest and Pantanal biomes, as well as urbanized areas in southern and southeastern Brazil, were analyzed for the presence of haemosporidian parasites by PCR of the mitochondrial gene that encodes cytochrome b (cytb). The PCR fragments of the positive samples were sequenced and analyzed by the Bayesian inference method to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships between Polychromophilus parasites from bats in Brazil and other countries. Sequences from Brazilian lineages of Polychromophilus were recovered in a clade with sequences from Polychromophilus murinus and close to the one Polychromophilus sequence obtained in Panama, the only available sequence for the American continent. This clade was restricted to bats of the family Vespertilionidae and distinct from Polychromophilus melanipherus, a parasite species mainly found in bats of the family Miniopteridae. The detection of Polychromophilus and the genetic proximity to P. murinus were further confirmed with the amplification of two other genes (clpc and asl). We also found a Haemosporida parasite sequence in a sample of Noctilio albiventris collected in the Pantanal biome, which presents phylogenetic proximity with avian Haemoproteus sequences. Morphological and molecular studies are still needed to conclude and describe the Polychromophilus species in Brazilian Myotis bats in more detail and to confirm Haemoproteus parasites in bats. Nevertheless, these molecular results in Brazilian bats confirm the importance of studying these neglected genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno da Silva Mathias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Herbert Sousa Soares
- Programa de Medicina e Bem-Estar Animal e Saúde Única, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo 04829-300, SP, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
- Programa de Medicina e Bem-Estar Animal e Saúde Única, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo 04829-300, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Carolina Clares Dos Anjos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel 9200, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Marina Galvão Bueno
- Laboratório de Virologia Comparada e Ambiental (LVCA), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil
| | - João Batista Pinho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo 01027-000, SP, Brazil
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Fecchio A, Batalha-Filho H, Dispoto JH, Bell JA, Weckstein JD. Distinct biogeographic processes and areas of endemism contributed differentially to Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus community assembly on Marajó Island. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023:107828. [PMID: 37247702 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Amazonia is the primary source of haemosporidian diversity for South American biomes. Yet, our understanding of the contribution of each area of endemism and the biogeographical processes that generated such diversity in this group of vector transmitted parasites remains incomplete. For example, a recently formed fluvial island in the Amazon delta - Marajó Island, is composed of avian lineages from adjacent Amazonian areas of endemism, but also from open habitats, such as Cerrado. This raises the question: Is the parasite assemblage found in avian hosts on this island formed by parasite lineages from adjacent Amazonian areas of endemism or Cerrado? Here, we assessed the spatiotemporal evolution of Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus parasites. Our biogeographic analysis showed that dispersal dominated Plasmodium diversification, whereas duplication was more frequent for the genus Parahaemoproteus. We show that the Inambari area of endemism was the primary source for Plasmodium diversity on Marajó Island, but that this island received more Parahaemoproteus lineages from Cerrado than any Amazonian area of endemism. The unique patterns of dispersal for each parasite genus coupled with their propensity to shift hosts locally may have facilitated their diversification across Amazonia, suggesting that differences in deep evolutionary history may have constrained their colonization of Marajó Island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET - Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Henrique Batalha-Filho
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Janice H Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Fecchio A, Martins TF, Dias RI, Bell JA, Pinho JB, Silva VLDB, Pacheco RDC. Immature hard ticks infected with Rickettsia amblyommatis on breeding birds from Pantanal. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102121. [PMID: 36682198 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Immature hard ticks from the genus Amblyomma feed on blood from a wide range of Neotropical avian hosts. They serve as vectors for pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, such as Rickettsia agents of the spotted fever group (SFG). Hence, determining ecological factors that increase encounter rates between immature ticks and their avian hosts may contribute to the understanding of tick-borne diseases transmission. Here, we used 720 individual birds from 96 species surveyed in the Brazilian Pantanal to test whether host breeding season influenced tick infestation probabilities. Additionally, collected ticks were screened for Rickettsia agents to describe new avian-tick-bacteria associations. Our models revealed that the probability of an individual bird being infested with immature ticks was similar during the breeding and pre-breeding season, but higher loads of immature tick stages were found during the breeding season. Host sex did not predict infestation probability, but Rickettsia agents recovered from ticks were more prevalent during the pre-breeding season. The new records of host usage by larvae and nymphs of Amblyomma in Pantanal and the growing body of tick surveys in Neotropical avian communities, suggest that immature ticks may benefit from avian blood sources during their annual cycle. The low number of infected ticks with Rickettsia agents on Pantanal birds suggest that this vertebrate group are likely not acting as reservoirs for these microorganisms. However, long-term surveys at the same site are imperative to determine which tick species are acting as reservoirs for Rickettsia agents in Pantanal and determine whether birds are playing a role in dispersing ticks and tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET - Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Raphael I Dias
- Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58201, USA
| | - João B Pinho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Victoria Luiza de Barros Silva
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária e Doenças Parasitárias dos Animais Domésticos e Silvestres, Hospital Veterinário - HOVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Richard de Campos Pacheco
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária e Doenças Parasitárias dos Animais Domésticos e Silvestres, Hospital Veterinário - HOVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
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Achatz TJ, Burkman CA, Fecchio A, Pulis EE, Tkach VV. Description and Phylogenetic Relationships of Anhingatrema n. gen. (Digenea: Diplostomidae) with Two New Species from New World Anhingas (Aves: Anhingidae). Acta Parasitol 2023; 68:159-171. [PMID: 36456776 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00643-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Diplostomidae is a globally distributed family of digeneans that parasitize a wide variety of tetrapod definitive hosts. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed unknown diplostomid diversity in avian hosts throughout the New World. Herein, we provide descriptions of a novel genus of diplostomids with two new species. METHODS Two species of diplostomids belonging to the new genus were collected from anhinga birds in Mississippi (USA) and Brazil. Partial nuclear 28S ribosomal and mitochondrial cox1 genes were sequenced. Ribosomal data were used for phylogenetic inference. RESULTS Both species of Anhingatrema n. gen. were positioned in a 100% supported, monophyletic clade in the phylogenetic tree. The molecular phylogenetic position and a combination of morphological features (e.g., presence of pseudosuckers, testes shape and orientation) supported erection of the new genus. Anhingatrema overstreeti n. sp. and Anhingatrema cararai n. sp. are morphologically similar, but differ in size of and ratios associated with pseudosuckers. The two species differ by 2% of 28S sequences and 13.8% of cox1 sequences. Comparison of DNA sequences revealed that Diplostomidae gen. sp. in GenBank (MZ314151) is conspecific with An. overstreeti n. sp. CONCLUSION Anhingatrema n. gen. is the sixth genus of diplostomids known from anhingas worldwide. Anhingatrema cararai n. sp. is the first diplostomid to be reported from anhingas in South America. Combined with previous studies, the molecular phylogenies revealed at least two host switches to anhingas from other birds during the evolutionary history of the Diplostomidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Achatz
- Department of Natural Sciences, Middle Georgia State University, Macon, GA, 31206, USA
| | - Clara A Burkman
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Eric E Pulis
- Department of Science and Mathematics, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD, 57401, USA
| | - Vasyl V Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA.
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Aguiar de Souza Penha V, Maia Chaves Bicalho Domingos F, Fecchio A, Bell JA, Weckstein JD, Ricklefs RE, Braga EM, de Abreu Moreira P, Soares L, Latta S, Tolesano-Pascoli G, Alquezar RD, Del-Claro K, Manica LT. Haemosporidian parasites and incubation period influence plumage coloration in tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221283. [PMID: 36416043 PMCID: PMC9682435 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds are highly visually oriented and use plumage coloration as an important signalling trait in social communication. Hence, males and females may have different patterns of plumage coloration, a phenomenon known as sexual dichromatism. Because males tend to have more complex plumages, sexual dichromatism is usually attributed to female choice. However, plumage coloration is partly condition-dependent; therefore, other selective pressures affecting individuals' success may also drive the evolution of this trait. Here, we used tanagers as model organisms to study the relationships between dichromatism and plumage coloration complexity in tanagers with parasitism by haemosporidians, investment in reproduction and life-history traits. We screened blood samples from 2849 individual birds belonging to 52 tanager species to detect haemosporidian parasites. We used publicly available data for plumage coloration, bird phylogeny and life-history traits to run phylogenetic generalized least-square models of plumage dichromatism and complexity in male and female tanagers. We found that plumage dichromatism was more pronounced in bird species with a higher prevalence of haemosporidian parasites. Lastly, high plumage coloration complexity in female tanagers was associated with a longer incubation period. Our results indicate an association between haemosporidian parasites and plumage coloration suggesting that parasites impact mechanisms of sexual selection, increasing differences between the sexes, and social (non-sexual) selection, driving females to develop more complex coloration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET—Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, U9200, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 58202-9019, Grand Forks, USA
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert E. Ricklefs
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri—Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Erika Martins Braga
- Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Soares
- Research Associate, National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steven Latta
- Conservation and Field Research, National Aviary, 15212, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Graziela Tolesano-Pascoli
- Zoology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, 70910-900, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Renata Duarte Alquezar
- Animal Behavior Laboratory, Graduate Program in Ecology, University of Brasilia, 70910-900, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Kleber Del-Claro
- Behavioral Ecology and Interactions Laboratory, Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Federal University of Uberlândia, 38405-240, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lilian Tonelli Manica
- Zoology Department, Federal University of Paraná, 81531-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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Fecchio A, Dias RI, De La Torre GM, Bell JA, Sagario MC, Gorosito CA, dos Anjos CC, Lugarini C, Piacentini VQ, Pinho JB, Kirchgatter K, Ricklefs RE, Schunck F, Cueto VR. Beta diversity, prevalence, and specificity of avian haemosporidian parasites throughout the annual cycle of Chilean Elaenia ( Elaenia chilensis), a Neotropical austral migrant. Parasitology 2022; 149:1760-1768. [PMID: 36165282 PMCID: PMC11010540 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Migratory birds are implicated in dispersing haemosporidian parasites over great geographic distances. However, their role in sharing these vector-transmitted blood parasites with resident avian host species along their migration flyway is not well understood. We studied avian haemosporidian parasites in 10 localities where Chilean Elaenia, a long-distance Neotropical austral migrant species, spends part of its annual cycle to determine local parasite transmission among resident sympatric host species in the elaenia's distributional range across South America. We sampled 371 Chilean Elaenias and 1,818 birds representing 243 additional sympatric species from Brazilian wintering grounds to Argentinian breeding grounds. The 23 haemosporidian lineages found in Chilean Elaenias exhibited considerable variation in distribution, specialization, and turnover across the 10 avian communities in South America. Parasite lineage dissimilarity increased with geographic distance, and infection probability by Parahaemoproteus decreased in localities harbouring a more diverse haemosporidian fauna. Furthermore, blood smears from migrating Chilean Elaenias and local resident avian host species did not contain infective stages of Leucocytozoon, suggesting that transmission did not take place in the Brazilian stopover site. Our analyses confirm that this Neotropical austral migrant connects avian host communities and transports haemosporidian parasites along its distributional range in South America. However, the lack of transmissive stages at stopover site and the infrequent parasite lineage sharing between migratory host populations and residents at breeding and wintering grounds suggest that Chilean Elaenias do not play a significant role in dispersing haemosporidian parasites, nor do they influence local transmission across South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Aves, Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Raphael I. Dias
- Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Gabriel M. De La Torre
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - M. Cecilia Sagario
- Grupo de Ecología Terrestre de Neuquén, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA–CONICET and UNComahue), and Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Neuquén (CEAN), Junín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Cristian A. Gorosito
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Aves, Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Carolina C. dos Anjos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Camile Lugarini
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Vítor Q. Piacentini
- Departamento de Biologia e Zoologia & Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - João B. Pinho
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Robert E. Ricklefs
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fabio Schunck
- Brazilian Committee for Ornithological Records – CBRO, Brazil
| | - Victor R. Cueto
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Aves, Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
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10
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Aguiar de Souza Penha V, Maia Chaves Bicalho Domingos F, Fecchio A, Bell JA, Weckstein JD, Ricklefs RE, Braga EM, de Abreu Moreira P, Soares L, Latta S, Tolesano-Pascoli G, Alquezar RD, Del-Claro K, Manica LT. Host life-history traits predict haemosporidian parasite prevalence in tanagers (Aves: Thraupidae). Parasitology 2022; 150:1-10. [PMID: 36226920 PMCID: PMC10090595 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne parasites are important ecological drivers influencing life-history evolution in birds by increasing host mortality or susceptibility to new diseases. Therefore, understanding why vulnerability to infection varies within a host clade is a crucial task for conservation biology and for understanding macroecological life-history patterns. Here, we studied the relationship of avian life-history traits and climate on the prevalence of Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus parasites. We sampled 3569 individual birds belonging to 53 species of the family Thraupidae. Individuals were captured from 2007 to 2018 at 92 locations. We created 2 phylogenetic generalized least-squares models with Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus prevalence as our response variables, and with the following predictor variables: climate PC1, climate PC2, body size, mixed-species flock participation, incubation period, migration, nest height, foraging height, forest cover, and diet. We found that Parahaemoproteus and Plasmodium prevalence was higher in species inhabiting open habitats. Tanager species with longer incubation periods had higher Parahaemoproteus prevalence as well, and we hypothesize that these longer incubation periods overlap with maximum vector abundances, resulting in a higher probability of infection among adult hosts during their incubation period and among chicks. Lastly, we found that Plasmodium prevalence was higher in species without migratory behaviour, with mixed-species flock participation, and with an omnivorous or animal-derived diet. We discuss the consequences of higher infection prevalence in relation to life-history traits in tanagers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert E. Ricklefs
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri–Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Erika Martins Braga
- Malaria Laboratory, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Soares
- Research Associate, National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steven Latta
- Conservation and Field Research, National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Graziela Tolesano-Pascoli
- Zoology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Renata Duarte Alquezar
- Animal Behavior Laboratory, Graduate Program in Ecology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Kleber Del-Claro
- Behavioral Ecology and Interactions Laboratory, Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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11
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De La Torre GM, Fecchio A, Bell JA, Campião KM. Host evolutionary history rather than avian functional traits drives the
Plasmodium
regional assembly in the Atlantic Forest. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel M. De La Torre
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraná Curitiba Brazil
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná Curitiba Brazil
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Cuiabá Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology University of North Dakota Grand Forks North Dakota U.S.A
| | - Karla M. Campião
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná Curitiba Brazil
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12
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Achatz TJ, Pulis EE, Woodyard ET, Rosser TG, Martens JR, Weinstein SB, Fecchio A, McAllister CT, Carrión Bonilla C, Tkach VV. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Neodiplostomum and Fibricola (Digenea, Diplostomidae) does not support host-based systematics. Parasitology 2022; 149:542-554. [PMID: 35042575 PMCID: PMC8976946 DOI: 10.1017/s003118202100216x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Fibricola and Neodiplostomum are diplostomid genera with very similar morphology that are currently separated based on their definitive hosts. Fibricola spp. are normally found in mammals, while Neodiplostomum spp. typically parasitize birds. Previously, no DNA sequence data was available for any member of Fibricola. We generated nuclear ribosomal and mtDNA sequences of Fibricola cratera (type-species), Fibricola lucidum and 6 species of Neodiplostomum. DNA sequences were used to examine phylogenetic interrelationships among Fibricola and Neodiplostomum and re-evaluate their systematics. Molecular phylogenies and morphological study suggest that Fibricola should be considered a junior synonym of Neodiplostomum. Therefore, we synonymize the two genera and transfer all members of Fibricola into Neodiplostomum. Specimens morphologically identified as Neodiplostomum cratera belonged to 3 distinct phylogenetic clades based on mitochondrial data. One of those clades also included sequences of specimens identified morphologically as Neodiplostomum lucidum. Further study is necessary to resolve the situation regarding the morphology of N. cratera. Our results demonstrated that some DNA sequences of N. americanum available in GenBank originate from misidentified Neodiplostomum banghami. Molecular phylogentic data revealed at least 2 independent host-switching events between avian and mammalian hosts in the evolutionary history of Neodiplostomum; however, the directionality of these host-switching events remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Achatz
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota58202, USA
- Department of Natural Sciences, Middle Georgia State University, Macon, Georgia31206, USA
| | - Eric E. Pulis
- Department of Science and Mathematics, Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota57401, USA
| | - Ethan T. Woodyard
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi39762, USA
| | - Thomas G. Rosser
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi39762, USA
| | - Jakson R. Martens
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota58202, USA
| | - Sara B. Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah84112, USA
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso78060900, Brazil
| | - Chris T. McAllister
- Science and Mathematics Division, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Idabel, Oklahoma74745, USA
| | | | - Vasyl V. Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota58202, USA
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13
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de Angeli Dutra D, Fecchio A, Braga ÉM, Poulin R. Migratory behaviour does not alter cophylogenetic congruence between avian hosts and their haemosporidian parasites. Parasitology 2022; 149:1-8. [PMID: 35393002 PMCID: PMC10090587 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022000154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Parasites display various degrees of host specificity, reflecting different coevolutionary histories with their hosts. Avian hosts follow multiple migration patterns representing short but also long distances. As parasites infecting migratory birds are subjected to multiple environmental and biotic changes through their flyways, migration may disrupt or strengthen cophylogenetic congruence between hosts and parasites. On the one hand, parasites might adapt to a single migratory host, evolving to cope with the specific challenges associated with the multiple habitats occupied by the host. On the other, as migrants can introduce parasites into new habitats, higher rates of host switching could also disrupt cophylogenetic patterns. We analysed whether migratory behaviour shapes avian haemosporidian parasite–host cophylogenetic congruence by testing if contributions of host–parasite links to overall congruence differ among resident and short-, variable- and long-distance migrants globally and within South America only. On both scales, we found significant overall cophylogenetic congruence by testing whether overall congruence differed between haemosporidian lineages and bird species. However, we found no difference in contribution towards congruence among links involving resident vs migratory hosts in both models. Thus, migratory behaviour neither weakens nor strengthens bird–haemosporidian cophylogenetic congruence, suggesting that other avian host traits are more influential in generating phylogenetic congruence in this host–parasite system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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14
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Fecchio A, Lugarini C, Ferreira A, Weckstein JD, Kuabara KMD, De La Torre GM, Ogrzewalska M, Martins TF, de Angeli Dutra D. Migration and season explain tick prevalence in Brazilian birds. Med Vet Entomol 2021; 35:547-555. [PMID: 34018221 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Neotropical birds are mostly parasitized by immature ticks and act as reservoir hosts of tick-borne pathogens of medical and veterinary interest. Hence, determining the factors that enable ticks to encounter these highly mobile hosts and increase the potential for tick dispersal throughout migratory flyways are important for understanding tick-borne disease transmission. We used 9682 individual birds from 572 species surveyed across Brazil and Bayesian models to disentangle possible avian host traits and climatic drivers of infestation probabilities, accounting for avian host phylogenetic relationships and spatiotemporal factors that may influence tick prevalence. Our models revealed that the probability of an individual bird being infested with tick larvae and nymphs was lower in partial migrant hosts and during the wet season. Notably, infestation probability increased in areas with a higher proportion of partial migrant birds. Other avian ecological traits known to influence tick prevalence (foraging habitat and body mass) and environmental condition that might constrain tick abundance (annual precipitation and minimum temperature) did not explain infestation probability. Our findings suggest that migratory flyways harbouring a greater abundance of migrant bird hosts also harbour a higher prevalence of immature ticks with potential to enhance the local transmission of tick-borne pathogens and spread across regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - C Lugarini
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - A Ferreira
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - J D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
| | - K M D Kuabara
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
| | - G M De La Torre
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - M Ogrzewalska
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-IOC, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - T F Martins
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias-SUCEN, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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15
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Achatz TJ, Chermak TP, Martens JR, Pulis EE, Fecchio A, Bell JA, Greiman SE, Cromwell KJ, Brant SV, Kent ML, Tkach VV. Unravelling the diversity of the Crassiphialinae (Digenea: Diplostomidae) with molecular phylogeny and descriptions of five new species. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis 2021; 1:100051. [PMID: 35284861 PMCID: PMC8906103 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Crassiphialinae Sudarikov, 1960 is a large subfamily of the Diplostomidae Poirier, 1886 with a complex taxonomic history. It includes a diversity of species parasitic in the intestines of avian and mammalian definitive hosts worldwide. Posthodiplostomum Dubois, 1936 is a large and broadly distributed crassiphialine genus notorious for its association with diseases in their fish second intermediate hosts. In this study, we generated partial 28S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mtDNA gene sequences of digeneans belonging to seven crassiphialine genera. The 28S sequences were used to study the interrelationships among crassiphialines and their placement among other major diplostomoidean lineages. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis and review of morphology does not support subfamilies currently recognized in the Diplostomidae; therefore, we abandon the current subfamily system of the Diplostomidae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest the synonymy of Posthodiplostomum, Ornithodiplostomum Dubois, 1936 and Mesoophorodiplostomum Dubois, 1936; morphological study of our well-fixed adult specimens and review of literature revealed lack of consistent differences among the three genera. Thus, we synonymize Ornithodiplostomum and Mesoophorodiplostomum with Posthodiplostomum. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest an Old World origin of Posthodiplostomum followed by multiple dispersal events among biogeographic realms. Furthermore, our analyses indicate that the ancestors of these digeneans likely parasitized ardeid definitive hosts. Four new species of Posthodiplostomum collected from birds in the New World as well as one new species of Posthodiplostomoides Williams, 1969 from Uganda are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Achatz
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA,Department of Natural Sciences, Middle Georgia State University, Macon, GA 31206, USA
| | - Taylor P. Chermak
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Jakson R. Martens
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Eric E. Pulis
- Department of Science and Mathematics, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD 57401, USA
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060900, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Stephen E. Greiman
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA
| | - Kara J. Cromwell
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA,Confluence Ecology, Missoula, MT 59802, USA
| | - Sara V. Brant
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, Division of Parasites, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Michael L. Kent
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, 220 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Vasyl V. Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA,Corresponding author.
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16
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de Angeli Dutra D, Fecchio A, Braga ÉM, Poulin R. Haemosporidian taxonomic composition, network centrality and partner fidelity between resident and migratory avian hosts. Oecologia 2021; 197:501-509. [PMID: 34482439 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05031-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Migration can modify interaction dynamics between parasites and their hosts with migrant hosts able to disperse parasites and impact local community transmission. Thus, studying the relationships among migratory hosts and their parasites is fundamental to elucidate how migration shapes host-parasite interactions. Avian haemosporidians are some of the most prevalent and diverse group of wildlife parasites and are also widely studied as models in ecological and evolutionary research. Here, we contrast partner fidelity, network centrality and parasite taxonomic composition among resident and non-resident avian hosts using presence/absence data on haemosporidians parasitic in South American birds as study model. We ran multilevel Bayesian models to assess the role of migration in determining partner fidelity (i.e., normalized degree) and centrality (i.e., weighted closeness) in host-parasite networks of avian hosts and their respective haemosporidian parasites. In addition, to evaluate parasite taxonomic composition, we performed permutational multivariate analyses of variance to quantify dissimilarity in haemosporidian lineages infecting different host migratory categories. We observed similar partner fidelity and parasite taxonomic composition among resident and migratory hosts. Conversely, we demonstrate that migratory hosts play a more central role in host-parasite networks than residents. However, when evaluating partially and fully migratory hosts separately, we observed that only partially migratory species presented higher network centrality when compared to resident birds. Therefore, migration does not lead to differences in both partner fidelity and parasite taxonomic composition. However, migratory behavior is positively associated with network centrality, indicating migratory hosts play more important roles in shaping host-parasite interactions and influence local transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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17
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Achatz TJ, Brito ES, Fecchio A, Tkach VV. Description and Phylogenetic Position of a New Species of Herpetodiplostomum from Phrynops geoffroanus in Brazil and a Reevaluation of Cheloniodiplostomum. J Parasitol 2021; 107:455-462. [DOI: 10.1645/21-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Achatz
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
| | - Elizângela S. Brito
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Vasyl V. Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
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18
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de Angeli Dutra D, Fecchio A, Martins Braga É, Poulin R. Migratory birds have higher prevalence and richness of avian haemosporidian parasites than residents. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:877-882. [PMID: 33848498 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Individuals of migratory species may be more likely to become infected by parasites because they cross different regions along their route, thereby being exposed to a wider range of parasites during their annual cycle. Conversely, migration may have a protective effect since migratory behaviour allows hosts to escape environments presenting a high risk of infection. Haemosporidians are one of the best studied, most prevalent and diverse groups of avian parasites, however the impact of avian host migration on infection by these parasites remains controversial. We tested whether migratory behaviour influenced the prevalence and richness of avian haemosporidian parasites among South American birds. We used a dataset comprising ~ 11,000 bird blood samples representing 260 bird species from 63 localities and Bayesian multi-level models to test the impact of migratory behaviour on prevalence and lineage richness of two avian haemosporidian genera (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus). We found that fully migratory species present higher parasite prevalence and higher richness of haemosporidian lineages. However, we found no difference between migratory and non-migratory species when evaluating prevalence separately for Plasmodium and Haemoproteus, or for the richness of Plasmodium lineages. Nevertheless, our results indicate that migratory behaviour is associated with an infection cost, namely a higher prevalence and greater variety of haemosporidian parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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de Angeli Dutra D, Filion A, Fecchio A, Braga ÉM, Poulin R. Migrant birds disperse haemosporidian parasites and affect their transmission in avian communities. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Univ. Federal de Mato Grosso Cuiabá Brazil
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Depto de Parasitologia, Inst. de Ciências Biológicas, Univ. Federal de Minas Gerais Brazil
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Fecchio A, Lima MR, Bell JA, Schunck F, Corrêa AH, Beco R, Jahn AE, Fontana CS, da Silva TW, Repenning M, Braga ÉM, Garcia JE, Lugarini C, Silva JCR, Andrade LHM, Dispoto JH, Dos Anjos CC, Weckstein JD, Kirchgatter K, Ellis VA, Ricklefs RE, De La Torre GM. Loss of forest cover and host functional diversity increases prevalence of avian malaria parasites in the Atlantic Forest. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:719-728. [PMID: 33722680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Host phylogenetic relatedness and ecological similarity are thought to contribute to parasite community assembly and infection rates. However, recent landscape level anthropogenic changes may disrupt host-parasite systems by impacting functional and phylogenetic diversity of host communities. We examined whether changes in host functional and phylogenetic diversity, forest cover, and minimum temperature influence the prevalence, diversity, and distributions of avian haemosporidian parasites (genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) across 18 avian communities in the Atlantic Forest. To explore spatial patterns in avian haemosporidian prevalence and taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, we surveyed 2241 individuals belonging to 233 avian species across a deforestation gradient. Mean prevalence and parasite diversity varied considerably across avian communities and parasites responded differently to host attributes and anthropogenic changes. Avian malaria prevalence (termed herein as an infection caused by Plasmodium parasites) was higher in deforested sites, and both Plasmodium prevalence and taxonomic diversity were negatively related to host functional diversity. Increased diversity of avian hosts increased local taxonomic diversity of Plasmodium lineages but decreased phylogenetic diversity of this parasite genus. Temperature and host phylogenetic diversity did not influence prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites. Variation in the diversity of avian host traits that promote parasite encounter and vector exposure (host functional diversity) partially explained the variation in avian malaria prevalence and diversity. Recent anthropogenic landscape transformation (reduced proportion of native forest cover) had a major influence on avian malaria occurrence across the Atlantic Forest. This suggests that, for Plasmodium, host phylogenetic diversity was not a biotic filter to parasite transmission as prevalence was largely explained by host ecological attributes and recent anthropogenic factors. Our results demonstrate that, similar to human malaria and other vector-transmitted pathogens, prevalence of avian malaria parasites will likely increase with deforestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT 78060900, Brazil.
| | - Marcos R Lima
- Department of Animal and Plant Biology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR 86051-970, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Fabio Schunck
- Brazilian Committee for Ornithological Records - CBRO, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline H Corrêa
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Renata Beco
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Alex E Jahn
- Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47408, USA
| | - Carla S Fontana
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Thaiane W da Silva
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Márcio Repenning
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil; Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande. Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Érika M Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - José E Garcia
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Vitoria de Santo Antao, PE 55608-680, Brazil
| | - Camile Lugarini
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Laboratório de Saúde Única, Epidemiologia e Geoprocessamento, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 52061-030, Brazil
| | - Jean C R Silva
- Laboratório de Saúde Única, Epidemiologia e Geoprocessamento, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 52061-030, Brazil
| | - Leontina H M Andrade
- Laboratório de Saúde Única, Epidemiologia e Geoprocessamento, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 52061-030, Brazil
| | - Janice H Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
| | - Carolina C Dos Anjos
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA; Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, SP 01027-000, Brazil
| | - Vincenzo A Ellis
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Robert E Ricklefs
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA
| | - Gabriel M De La Torre
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR 80210-170, Brazil
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Anjos CC, Chagas CRF, Fecchio A, Schunck F, Costa-Nascimento MJ, Monteiro EF, Mathias BS, Bell JA, Guimarães LO, Comiche KJM, Valkiūnas G, Kirchgatter K. Avian Malaria and Related Parasites from Resident and Migratory Birds in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with Description of a New Haemoproteus Species. Pathogens 2021; 10:103. [PMID: 33494428 PMCID: PMC7912314 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the prevalence and local transmission dynamics of parasitic organisms are necessary to understand the ability of parasites to persist in host populations and disperse across regions, yet local transmission dynamics, diversity, and distribution of haemosporidian parasites remain poorly understood. We studied the prevalence, diversity, and distributions of avian haemosporidian parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon among resident and migratory birds in Serra do Mar, Brazil. Using 399 blood samples from 66 Atlantic Forest bird species, we determined the prevalence and molecular diversity of these pathogens across avian host species and described a new species of Haemoproteus. Our molecular and morphological study also revealed that migratory species were infected more than residents. However, vector infective stages (gametocytes) of Leucocytozoon spp., the most prevalent parasites found in the most abundant migrating host species in Serra do Mar (Elaenia albiceps), were not seen in blood films of local birds suggesting that this long-distance Austral migrant can disperse Leucocytozoon parasite lineages from Patagonia to the Atlantic Forest, but lineage sharing among resident species and local transmission cannot occur in this part of Brazil. Our study demonstrates that migratory species may harbor a higher diversity and prevalence of parasites than resident species, but transportation of some parasites by migratory hosts may not always affect local transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina C. Anjos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (C.C.A.); (E.F.M.); (B.S.M.); (K.J.M.C.)
| | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil;
| | - Fabio Schunck
- Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos—CBRO, São Paulo 04785-040, SP, Brazil;
| | - Maria J. Costa-Nascimento
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil;
| | - Eliana F. Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (C.C.A.); (E.F.M.); (B.S.M.); (K.J.M.C.)
| | - Bruno S. Mathias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (C.C.A.); (E.F.M.); (B.S.M.); (K.J.M.C.)
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA;
| | - Lilian O. Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo 01027-000, SP, Brazil;
| | - Kiba J. M. Comiche
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (C.C.A.); (E.F.M.); (B.S.M.); (K.J.M.C.)
| | | | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (C.C.A.); (E.F.M.); (B.S.M.); (K.J.M.C.)
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo 01027-000, SP, Brazil;
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Fecchio A, de Faria IP, Bell JA, Nunes R, Weckstein JD, Lima MR. Mining increases the prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites in Northeast Amazonia. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:605-613. [PMID: 33415388 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06986-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Studies contrasting parasite prevalence and host-parasite community structure between pristine and disturbed environments will improve our understanding of how deforestation affects disease transmission and parasite extinction. To determine how infection rates of a common and diverse group of avian blood parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) respond to changes in avian host composition after mining, we surveyed 25 bird communities from pristine forests (two forest types: plateau and hillside) and reforested sites in Northeast Amazonia. Infection rates and both parasite and avian host community structure exhibited considerable variation across the deforestation gradient. In opposition to the emerging pattern of lower avian haemosporidian prevalence in disturbed tropical forests in Africa, we show that secondary forests had higher haemosporidian prevalence in one of the largest mining areas of Amazonia. The dissimilarity displayed by bird communities may explain, in part, the higher prevalence of Haemoproteus in reforested areas owing to the tolerance of some bird species to open-canopy forest habitat. On the other hand, deforestation may cause local extinction of Plasmodium parasites due to the loss of their avian hosts that depend on closed-canopy primary forest habitats. Our results demonstrate that forest loss induced by anthropogenic changes can affect a host-parasite system and disturb both parasite transmission and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Avenida Fernando Corrêa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá, MT, 78060-900, Brazil.
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA.
| | - Iubatã P de Faria
- Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Populações de Aves Frugívoras, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Três Lagoas, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Renata Nunes
- Veredas Instituto Ambiental e Consultoria, Núcleo Bandeirante, DF, Brazil
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA
| | - Marcos R Lima
- Department of Animal and Plant Biology, State University of Londrina, CP 10.011, Londrina, PR, 86051-970, Brazil
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23
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Fecchio A, Ribeiro RM, Ferreira FC, de Angeli Dutra D, Tolesano-Pascoli G, Alquezar RD, Khan AU, Pichorim M, Moreira PA, Costa-Nascimento MJ, Monteiro EF, Mathias BS, Guimarães LO, Simões RF, Braga ÉM, Kirchgatter K, Dias RI. Higher infection probability of haemosporidian parasites in Blue-black Grassquits (Volatinia jacarina) inhabiting native vegetation across Brazil. Parasitol Int 2020; 80:102204. [PMID: 33045411 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Human induced changes on landscape can alter the biotic and abiotic factors that influence the transmission of vector-borne parasites. To examine how infection rates of vector-transmitted parasites respond to changes on natural landscapes, we captured 330 Blue-black Grassquits (Volatinia jacarina) in Brazilian biomes and assessed the prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) across avian host populations inhabiting environment under different disturbance and climatic conditions. Overall prevalence in Blue-black Grassquits was low (11%) and infection rates exhibited considerable spatial variation, ranging from zero to 39%. Based on genetic divergence of cytochrome b gene, we found two lineages of Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) and 10 of Plasmodium. We showed that Blue-black Grassquit populations inhabiting sites with higher proportion of native vegetation cover were more infected across Brazil. Other landscape metrics (number of water bodies and distance to urban areas) and climatic condition (temperature and precipitation) known to influence vector activity and promote avian malaria transmission did not explain infection probability in Blue-black Grassquit populations. Moreover, breeding season did not explain prevalence across avian host populations. Our findings suggest that avian haemosporidian prevalence and diversity in Blue-black Grassquit populations are determined by recent anthropogenic changes in vegetation cover that may alter microclimate, thus influencing vector activity and parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
| | - Rayanne M Ribeiro
- Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Francisco C Ferreira
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA; Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Daniela de Angeli Dutra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Graziela Tolesano-Pascoli
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil
| | - Renata D Alquezar
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70919-970, DF, Brazil
| | - Asmat U Khan
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; Department of Zoology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Dir (Upper) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Mauro Pichorim
- Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Patrícia A Moreira
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Eliana F Monteiro
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias/IMT-USP, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Bruno S Mathias
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias/IMT-USP, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Lilian O Guimarães
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias/IMT-USP, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Roseli F Simões
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias/IMT-USP, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Érika M Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias/IMT-USP, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Raphael I Dias
- Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
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Fecchio A, Martins TF, Bell JA, De LaTorre GM, Bueno ER, Malaquias MJ, Pinho JB, Labruna MB, Dias RI. Host movement and time of year influence tick parasitism in Pantanal birds. Exp Appl Acarol 2020; 82:125-135. [PMID: 32856170 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00530-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are among the best studied parasitic groups as they spread important pathogens of medical and veterinary importance worldwide. Migratory birds can play an important role in transporting ticks infected with pathogens across wide geographic regions. It is therefore important to understand which factors promote tick parasitism rates across their avian hosts and the associated potential for disease spread. Here, we identified the host attributes of infestation probability of ticks from the genus Amblyomma in 955 birds from Pantanal, Brazil. Infestation rates exhibited considerable variation across the 129 avian species surveyed and were explained by both host ecological traits and evolutionary history. The probability of an individual bird being infested with immature ticks (larvae and/or nymphs) was higher across resident bird species that forage at ground level and during the wet season. Bird species that feed on vertebrates were less likely to be infested by ticks. Other ecological traits known to promote tick exposure (age, body mass, social behavior, and sex) did not predict infestation probability. Our findings demonstrate that tick occurrence in Pantanal birds is determined by avian host attributes, but tick occurrence throughout the year constrains exposure to host-seeking ticks. Moreover, the ecology of the avian host might prevent the potential spread of tick-borne diseases outside Pantanal as migratory hosts are likely less infested by ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Avenida Fernando Corrêa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá, MT, 78060900, Brazil.
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Gabriel M De LaTorre
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Laboratório de Ecologia E Interações Antagonísticas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Elaine R Bueno
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Aves, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Moises J Malaquias
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Aves, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - João B Pinho
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Avenida Fernando Corrêa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá, MT, 78060900, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Aves, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Raphael I Dias
- Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
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25
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Mesquita GB, Silva WL, Fecchio A, Martins TF, Labruna MB, Dias RI. Amblyomma ticks consumed by a giant cowbird, Molothrus oryzivorus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101424. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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26
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Fecchio A, Martins TF, Bell JA, De La Torre GM, Pinho JB, Weckstein JD, Tkach VV, Labruna MB, Dias RI. Low host specificity and lack of parasite avoidance by immature ticks in Brazilian birds. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2039-2045. [PMID: 32377908 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06698-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasites that feed on blood of a broad taxonomic range of terrestrial and flying vertebrates and are distributed across a wide range of environmental conditions. Here, we explore the biotic and abiotic factors on infestation probability of ticks of the genus Amblyomma and assess the degree of host specificity based on analysis of 1028 birds surveyed across Brazil. We show that tick infestation rates exhibited considerable variation across the 235 avian species analyzed and that the probability of an individual bird being parasitized by immature ticks (larvae and nymphs) increased with annual precipitation. Host phylogeny and two host ecological traits known to promote tick exposure (body mass and foraging behavior) did not predict infestation probability. Moreover, immature ticks displayed a low degree of host specificity at the family level. Lastly, tick occurrence in birds carrying infection with avian malaria and related parasites did not differ from those free of these haemosporidian parasites, indicating a lack of parasite avoidance by immature ticks. Our findings demonstrate that tick occurrence in birds across Brazilian biomes responds to environmental factors rather than ecological and evolutionary host attributes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Gabriel M De La Torre
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Laboratório de Ecologia e Interações Antagonísticas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - João B Pinho
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.,Laboratório de Ecologia de Aves, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA.,Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA
| | - Vasyl V Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Raphael I Dias
- Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
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Achatz TJ, Curran SS, Patitucci KF, Fecchio A, Tkach VV. Phylogenetic Affinities of Uvulifer Spp. (Digenea: Diplostomidae) in the Americas with Description of Two New Species from Peruvian Amazon. J Parasitol 2020. [PMID: 31580785 DOI: 10.1645/19-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Uvulifer Yamaguti, 1934, is a genus of diplostomoidean digeneans that parasitizes kingfishers worldwide. Species have a Neascus-type metacercaria that encysts in or on fish intermediate hosts, often causing black spot disease. Only 3 prior studies published DNA sequence data for Uvulifer species with only 1 including a single named species (Uvulifer spinatus López-Jiménez, Pérez-Ponce de León, & García-Varela, 2018). Herein we describe 2 new species of Uvulifer from the green-and-rufous kingfisher, Chloroceryle inda (Linnaeus), collected in Peru ( Uvulifer batesi n. sp. and Uvulifer pequenae n. sp.). Both new species are readily differentiated from their New World congeners by a combination of morphological characters including distribution of vitelline follicles and prosoma:opisthosoma length ratios. In addition, we used newly generated nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial COI gene sequence data to differentiate among species and examine phylogenetic affinities of Uvulifer. This includes the 2 new species and Uvulifer ambloplitis (Hughes, 1927), as well as Uvulifer elongatus Dubois, 1988 , Uvulifer prosocotyle (Lutz, 1928), and Uvulifer weberi Dubois, 1985 , none of which have been part of prior molecular phylogenetic studies. Our data on Uvulifer revealed 0.1-2.2% interspecific divergence in 28S sequences and 9.3-15.3% in COI sequences. Our 28S phylogeny revealed at least 6 well-supported clades within the genus. In contrast, the branch topology in the COI phylogenetic tree was overall less supported, indicating that although COI sequences are a great tool for species differentiation, they should be used with caution for phylogenetic inference at higher taxonomic levels. Our 28S phylogeny did not reveal any clear patterns of host association between Uvulifer and particular species of kingfishers; however, it identified 2 well-supported clades uniting Uvulifer species from distant geographical locations and more than 1 biogeographic realm, indicating at least 2 independent dispersal events in the evolutionary history of the New World Uvulifer. Our results clearly demonstrate that the diversity of Uvulifer in the New World has been underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Achatz
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
| | - Stephen S Curran
- Division of Coastal Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564
| | - Kaylyn F Patitucci
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT 78060900, Brazil
| | - Vasyl V Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
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Fecchio A, Bell JA, Bosholn M, Vaughan JA, Tkach VV, Lutz HL, Cueto VR, Gorosito CA, González-Acuña D, Stromlund C, Kvasager D, Comiche KJM, Kirchgatter K, Pinho JB, Berv J, Anciães M, Fontana CS, Zyskowski K, Sampaio S, Dispoto JH, Galen SC, Weckstein JD, Clark NJ. An inverse latitudinal gradient in infection probability and phylogenetic diversity for Leucocytozoon blood parasites in New World birds. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:423-435. [PMID: 31571223 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Geographic variation in environmental conditions as well as host traits that promote parasite transmission may impact infection rates and community assembly of vector-transmitted parasites. Identifying the ecological, environmental and historical determinants of parasite distributions and diversity is therefore necessary to understand disease outbreaks under changing environments. Here, we identified the predictors and contributions of infection probability and phylogenetic diversity of Leucocytozoon (an avian blood parasite) at site and species levels across the New World. To explore spatial patterns in infection probability and lineage diversity for Leucocytozoon parasites, we surveyed 69 bird communities from Alaska to Patagonia. Using phylogenetic Bayesian hierarchical models and high-resolution satellite remote-sensing data, we determined the relative influence of climate, landscape, geography and host phylogeny on regional parasite community assembly. Infection rates and parasite diversity exhibited considerable variation across regions in the Americas. In opposition to the latitudinal gradient hypothesis, both the diversity and prevalence of Leucocytozoon parasites decreased towards the equator. Host relatedness and traits known to promote vector exposure neither predicted infection probability nor parasite diversity. Instead, the probability of a bird being infected with Leucocytozoon increased with increasing vegetation cover (NDVI) and moisture levels (NDWI), whereas the diversity of parasite lineages decreased with increasing NDVI. Infection rates and parasite diversity also tended to be higher in cooler regions and higher latitudes. Whereas temperature partially constrains Leucocytozoon diversity and infection rates, landscape features, such as vegetation cover and water body availability, play a significant role in modulating the probability of a bird being infected. This suggests that, for Leucocytozoon, the barriers to host shifting and parasite host range expansion are jointly determined by environmental filtering and landscape, but not by host phylogeny. Our results show that integrating host traits, host ancestry, bioclimatic data and microhabitat characteristics that are important for vector reproduction are imperative to understand and predict infection prevalence and diversity of vector-transmitted parasites. Unlike other vector-transmitted diseases, our results show that Leucocytozoon diversity and prevalence will likely decrease with warming temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Mariane Bosholn
- Laboratório de Biologia Evolutiva e Comportamento Animal, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Brazil
| | | | - Vasyl V Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Holly L Lutz
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Victor R Cueto
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET - Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Argentina
| | - Cristian A Gorosito
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET - Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Argentina
| | - Daniel González-Acuña
- Laboratorio de Parásitos y Enfermedades de Fauna Silvestre, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Chad Stromlund
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Danielle Kvasager
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Kiba J M Comiche
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - João B Pinho
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Aves, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Jacob Berv
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Marina Anciães
- Laboratório de Biologia Evolutiva e Comportamento Animal, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Carla S Fontana
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia e Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Evolução da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Kristof Zyskowski
- Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sidnei Sampaio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Janice H Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Spencer C Galen
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Clark
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia
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Achatz TJ, Curran SS, Patitucci KF, Fecchio A, Tkach VV. Phylogenetic Affinities of Uvulifer Spp. (Digenea: Diplostomidae) in the Americas with Description of Two New Species from Peruvian Amazon. J Parasitol 2019; 105:704-717. [PMID: 31580785 PMCID: PMC7584121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Uvulifer Yamaguti, 1934, is a genus of diplostomoidean digeneans that parasitizes kingfishers worldwide. Species have a Neascus-type metacercaria that encysts in or on fish intermediate hosts, often causing black spot disease. Only 3 prior studies published DNA sequence data for Uvulifer species with only 1 including a single named species (Uvulifer spinatus López-Jiménez, Pérez-Ponce de León, & García-Varela, 2018). Herein we describe 2 new species of Uvulifer from the green-and-rufous kingfisher, Chloroceryle inda (Linnaeus), collected in Peru ( Uvulifer batesi n. sp. and Uvulifer pequenae n. sp.). Both new species are readily differentiated from their New World congeners by a combination of morphological characters including distribution of vitelline follicles and prosoma:opisthosoma length ratios. In addition, we used newly generated nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial COI gene sequence data to differentiate among species and examine phylogenetic affinities of Uvulifer. This includes the 2 new species and Uvulifer ambloplitis (Hughes, 1927), as well as Uvulifer elongatus Dubois, 1988 , Uvulifer prosocotyle (Lutz, 1928), and Uvulifer weberi Dubois, 1985 , none of which have been part of prior molecular phylogenetic studies. Our data on Uvulifer revealed 0.1-2.2% interspecific divergence in 28S sequences and 9.3-15.3% in COI sequences. Our 28S phylogeny revealed at least 6 well-supported clades within the genus. In contrast, the branch topology in the COI phylogenetic tree was overall less supported, indicating that although COI sequences are a great tool for species differentiation, they should be used with caution for phylogenetic inference at higher taxonomic levels. Our 28S phylogeny did not reveal any clear patterns of host association between Uvulifer and particular species of kingfishers; however, it identified 2 well-supported clades uniting Uvulifer species from distant geographical locations and more than 1 biogeographic realm, indicating at least 2 independent dispersal events in the evolutionary history of the New World Uvulifer. Our results clearly demonstrate that the diversity of Uvulifer in the New World has been underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Achatz
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
| | - Stephen S Curran
- Division of Coastal Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564
| | - Kaylyn F Patitucci
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
| | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT 78060900, Brazil
| | - Vasyl V Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Starcher Hall, 10 Cornell Street Stop 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
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30
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Fecchio A, Collins MD, Bell JA, García-Trejo EA, Sánchez-González LA, Dispoto JH, Rice NH, Weckstein JD. Bird Tissues from Museum Collections are Reliable for Assessing Avian Haemosporidian Diversity. J Parasitol 2019. [DOI: 10.1645/18-130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA 40170115, Brazil
| | | | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58201
| | - Erick A. García-Trejo
- Unidad de Informática para la Biodiversidad, UniCiencias. Departamento Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Luis A. Sánchez-González
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Depto. de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Apdo. Postal 70-399, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Janice H. Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
| | - Nathan H. Rice
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
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31
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Fecchio A, Collins MD, Bell JA, García-Trejo EA, Sánchez-González LA, Dispoto JH, Rice NH, Weckstein JD. Bird Tissues from Museum Collections Are Reliable for Assessing Avian Haemosporidian Diversity. J Parasitol 2019; 105:446-453. [PMID: 31237482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Birds harbor a diverse group of haemosporidian parasites that reproduce and develop in the host blood cells, muscle tissue, and various organs, which can cause negative effects on the survival and reproduction of their avian hosts. Characterization of the diversity, distribution, host specificity, prevalence patterns, and phylogenetic relationships of these parasites is critical to the study of avian host-parasite ecology and evolution and for understanding and preventing epidemics in wild bird populations. Here, we tested whether muscle and liver samples collected as part of standard ornithological museum expeditions can be examined to study the diversity and distributions of haemosporidians in the same way as blood collected from individual birds that are typically banded and released. We used a standard molecular diagnostic screening method for mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b) of the parasites and found that blood, muscle, and liver collected from the same host individual provide similar estimates of prevalence and diversity of haemosporidians from the genera Parahaemoproteus and Leucocytozoon. Although we found higher prevalence for the genus Plasmodium when we screened blood vs. liver and muscle samples, the estimates of the diversity of Plasmodium from different tissue types are not affected at the community level. Given these results, we conclude that for several reasons existing museum genetic resources collections are valuable data sources for the study of haemosporidians. First, ornithological museum collections around the world house tens of thousands of vouchered tissue samples collected from remote regions of the world. Second, the host specimens are vouchered and thus host identification and phenotype are permanently documented in databased archives with a diversity of associated ancillary data. Thus, not only can identifications be confirmed but also a diversity of morphological measurements and data can be measured and accessed for these host specimens in perpetuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- 1 Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA 40170115, Brazil
- 2 Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
| | | | - Jeffrey A Bell
- 4 Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58201
| | - Erick A García-Trejo
- 5 Unidad de Informática para la Biodiversidad, UniCiencias. Departamento Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Luis A Sánchez-González
- 6 Museo de Zoología "Alfonso L. Herrera", Depto. de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Apdo. Postal 70-399, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Janice H Dispoto
- 2 Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
| | - Nathan H Rice
- 2 Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- 2 Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
- 7 Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
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32
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Fecchio A, Bell JA, Pinheiro RB, Cueto VR, Gorosito CA, Lutz HL, Gaiotti MG, Paiva LV, França LF, Toledo‐Lima G, Tolentino M, Pinho JB, Tkach VV, Fontana CS, Grande JM, Santillán MA, Caparroz R, Roos AL, Bessa R, Nogueira W, Moura T, Nolasco EC, Comiche KJ, Kirchgatter K, Guimarães LO, Dispoto JH, Marini MÂ, Weckstein JD, Batalha‐Filho H, Collins MD. Avian host composition, local speciation and dispersal drive the regional assembly of avian malaria parasites in South American birds. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:2681-2693. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia Universidade Federal da Bahia Salvador Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology University of North Dakota Grand Forks North Dakota
| | - Rafael B.P. Pinheiro
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
| | - Victor R. Cueto
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP) CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco Esquel, Chubut Argentina
| | - Cristian A. Gorosito
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP) CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco Esquel, Chubut Argentina
| | - Holly L. Lutz
- Department of Surgery University of Chicago Chicago Illinios
- Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History Chicago Illinios
| | - Milene G. Gaiotti
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade de Brasília Brasília Brazil
| | - Luciana V. Paiva
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Populações Animais, Departamento de Biociências Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido Mossoró Brazil
| | - Leonardo F. França
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Populações Animais, Departamento de Biociências Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido Mossoró Brazil
| | - Guilherme Toledo‐Lima
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, Centro de Biociências Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Natal Brazil
| | - Mariana Tolentino
- Laboratório de Evolução e Comportamento Animal, Coordenação de Biodiversidade Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
| | - João B. Pinho
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Aves Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Cuiabá Brazil
| | - Vasyl V. Tkach
- Department of Biology University of North Dakota Grand Forks North Dakota
| | - Carla S. Fontana
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia e Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia e Evolução da Biodiversidade PUCRS Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Juan Manuel Grande
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad Nacional de La Pampa Santa Rosa Argentina
| | - Miguel A. Santillán
- División Zoología Museo de Historia Natural de la Provincia de La Pampa Santa Rosa Argentina
| | - Renato Caparroz
- Laboratório de Genética e Biodiversidade, Departamento de Genética e Morfologia Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasilia Brasília Brazil
| | - Andrei L. Roos
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade Florianópolis Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Florianópolis Brazil
| | | | - Wagner Nogueira
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Manejo e Conservação de Ecossistemas Naturais e Agrários, Universidade Federal de Viçosa Florestal Brazil
| | - Thiago Moura
- Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana Feira de Santana Brazil
| | - Erica C. Nolasco
- Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana Feira de Santana Brazil
| | - Kiba J.M. Comiche
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo Brazil
| | - Lilian O. Guimarães
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo Brazil
| | - Janice H. Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania
| | - Miguel Â. Marini
- Departamento de Zoologia Universidade de Brasília Brasília Brazil
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania
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Fecchio A, Wells K, Bell JA, Tkach VV, Lutz HL, Weckstein JD, Clegg SM, Clark NJ. Climate variation influences host specificity in avian malaria parasites. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:547-557. [PMID: 30637890 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Parasites with low host specificity (e.g. infecting a large diversity of host species) are of special interest in disease ecology, as they are likely more capable of circumventing ecological or evolutionary barriers to infect new hosts than are specialist parasites. Yet for many parasites, host specificity is not fixed and can vary in response to environmental conditions. Using data on host associations for avian malaria parasites (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida), we develop a hierarchical model that quantifies this environmental dependency by partitioning host specificity variation into region- and parasite-level effects. Parasites were generally phylogenetic host specialists, infecting phylogenetically clustered subsets of available avian hosts. However, the magnitude of this specialisation varied biogeographically, with parasites exhibiting higher host specificity in regions with more pronounced rainfall seasonality and wetter dry seasons. Recognising the environmental dependency of parasite specialisation can provide useful leverage for improving predictions of infection risk in response to global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo 147, Salvador, BA, 40170115, Brazil
| | - Konstans Wells
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 1 Campus Drive and Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Vasyl V Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Holly L Lutz
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, 5812 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL, 606372, USA.,Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences and Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA
| | - Sonya M Clegg
- Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Nicholas J Clark
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia
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34
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Fecchio A, Bell JA, Collins MD, Farias IP, Trisos CH, Tobias JA, Tkach VV, Weckstein JD, Ricklefs RE, Batalha-Filho H. Diversification by host switching and dispersal shaped the diversity and distribution of avian malaria parasites in Amazonia. OIKOS 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Univ. Federal da Bahia; Rua Barão de Jeremoabo 147 Salvador BA 40170115 Brazil
- Dept of Ornithology; Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University; Philadelhpia PA USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jason David Weckstein
- Dept of Ornithology; Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Dept of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences; Drexel Univ.; Philadelphia PA USA
| | | | - Henrique Batalha-Filho
- Natl Inst. of Science and Technology in Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies in Ecology and Evolution (INCT IN-TREE)
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Inst. de Biologia; Univ. Federal da Bahia; Salvador BA Brazil
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35
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Fecchio A, Silveira P, Weckstein JD, Dispoto JH, Anciães M, Bosholn M, Tkach VV, Bell JA. First Record of Leucocytozoon (Haemosporida: Leucocytozoidae) in Amazonia: Evidence for Rarity in Neotropical Lowlands or Lack of Sampling for This Parasite Genus? J Parasitol 2018; 104:168-172. [PMID: 29346738 DOI: 10.1645/17-182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds harbor an astonishing diversity of haemosporidian parasites belonging to the genera Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium. Currently there are more than 250 morphologically described avian haemosporidian species and 2,828 unique lineages found in virtually all avian clades and zoogeographic regions, except for Antarctica. Our report is based on PCR and microscopic screening of 1,302 individual avian samples from Brazil to detect the underrepresented genus Leucocytozoon. This survey primarily focuses on passerine birds collected from Amazonia, the Atlantic Rain Forest, and Pantanal. We also summarize studies conducted in Brazil that report haemosporidian prevalence using both microscopy and molecular tools and present for the first time a record of Leucocytozoon infecting an avian host population in Amazonia. Based on our findings, we suggest that high average temperatures may be constraining both the distribution and diversity of Leucocytozoon in lowland tropical South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170115, Brazil
| | - P Silveira
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170115, Brazil
| | - J D Weckstein
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170115, Brazil
| | - J H Dispoto
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170115, Brazil
| | - M Anciães
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170115, Brazil
| | - M Bosholn
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170115, Brazil
| | - V V Tkach
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170115, Brazil
| | - J A Bell
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170115, Brazil
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Dias R, Manica L, Gressler D, Bell J, Fecchio A. Plumage coloration, body condition and immunological status in Yellow-billed Cardinals (Paroaria capitata). ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2015.1077892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R.I. Dias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
- Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, 70790-075, Brazil
| | - L.T. Manica
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - D. Gressler
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - J.A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - A. Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
- Ornithology Department, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
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Fecchio A, Lima M, Silveira P, Ribas A, Caparroz R, Marini M. Age, but not sex and seasonality, influence Haemosporida prevalence in White-banded Tanagers (Neothraupis fasciata) from central Brazil. CAN J ZOOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2014-0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite many studies on avian blood parasites, we still have a limited understanding of the mechanisms that drive patterns of haemosporidian infection among tropical birds, including effects associated with sex, age, and seasonality. Using molecular and morphological methods for blood-parasite detection, we found that juvenile White-banded Tanagers (Neothraupis fasciata (Lichtenstein, 1823)) had lower haemosporidian prevalence than adults in a population within central Brazil. However, no sex or seasonal differences were detected. Of the 92 White-banded Tanagers analyzed, 67 individuals (72.8% prevalence) were infected with either Haemoproteus or Plasmodium (phylum Sporozoa, class Coccidea, order Haemosporida). Sequencing of a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene revealed six haemosporidian lineages: two lineages within the genus Haemoproteus and four within the genus Plasmodium. The prevalences of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus parasites were 43.5% and 17.4%, respectively. Our results suggest that this species maintains chronic infections all year round and individuals are able to sustain high parasite pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Genética Animal, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida Gal. Rodrigo Octávio Jordão Ramos, 3000, Coroado I, Manaus, 69077-000, Brazil
| | - M.R. Lima
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Animal e Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-990, Brazil
| | - P. Silveira
- Laboratório de Malária, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - A.C.A. Ribas
- Faculdade de Computação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, 79070-900, Brazil
| | - R. Caparroz
- Departamento de Genética e Morfologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - M.Â. Marini
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
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Sebaio F, Braga ÉM, Branquinho F, Fecchio A, Marini MÂ. Blood parasites in passerine birds from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2012; 21:7-15. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612012000100003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2011] [Accepted: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Parasites may lead bird species to extinction, affect host temporal and spatial population dynamics, alter community structure and alter individuals’ social status. We evaluated blood parasite prevalence and intensity according to bird families and species, among 925 birds that were caught in 2000 and 2001, in the Atlantic Forest in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We applied Giemsa staining to thin blood smears, to detect blood parasites. The birds (n = 15.8%) in 11 families, were infected by at least one parasite genus, especially Muscicapidae (28.3%) and Conopophagidae (25%). Among the 146 infected birds, Plasmodium was detected in all bird families and had the highest prevalence (54.8%). Trypanosoma, Haemoproteus and microfilaria had lower prevalence rates (23.3, 23.3 and 2.1%, respectively). Birds caught during the rainy season were more infected than birds caught during the dry season. The overall low prevalence of blood parasites in birds is similar to the patterns found elsewhere in the Neotropical region.
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Abstract
Neotropical parrots usually forage in forest canopies for nectar, flowers, leaves, fruit pulp, and seeds. As they have no all-purpose territories, these birds usually exploit vegetation mosaics in order to use plentiful resources as they become available. In this study we examine the use of a gallery forest in the southern Pantanal (Brazil) by a diverse parrot community that ranged from Brotogeris chiriri (a small species) to Ara chloroptera (a large one). Plant food resources principally used by parrots were abundantly available during the rainy season (fleshy fruits), the annual floods (fleshy fruits), and the dry season (flowers). While both smaller and larger species foraged on fruits, parakeets largely consumed the pulp, while larger parrot species used pulp and seeds. In the dry season parakeets foraged extensively on nectar, especially Inga vera nectar that was abundantly available during the last two months of the dry season, the harshest period of the year. Among larger parrots, only Propyrrhura auricollis frequently harvested nectar. Fruits maturing during floods, despite being fish- or water- dispersed were extensively used by the parrots. Hence, unlike what happens in most other Neotropical dry forests, occurrence of a fruiting peak during the annual flooding, which occurs in the transition from the wet to the dry season, constitutes an extra and significant episode of food availability, since in this period, fruit production normally declines. Therefore, the unique and abundant availability of flowers and fruits in this gallery forest may account for the presence of large parrot populations in the southern Pantanal.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ragusa-Netto
- Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Campus Três Lagoas, UFMS, C. P. 210, CEP 79600-000, Três Lagoas, MS, Brazil.
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