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Busi A, Castaño-Villa GJ, Rivera-Páez FA. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on resident and migratory wild birds in Orinoquia region, Colombia. Acta Trop 2024; 254:107210. [PMID: 38599442 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107210] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Several species of hard ticks, including those of the genera Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Amblyomma, and Rhipicephalus, are of medical and veterinary importance and have been reported in association with Neotropical wild birds. Colombia, known for its great bird diversity, has 57 confirmed tick species. However, there are few studies on the association between wild birds and ticks in Colombia. The Orinoquia region, a migratory center in Colombia, provides a unique opportunity to study wild bird-tick associations and their implications for tick-borne disease dynamics. Our study, conducted between October and December 2021, aimed to identify hard ticks infesting resident and migratory wild birds in the department of Arauca and to assess the presence of bacteria from the genera Anaplasma, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and piroplasms. A total of 383 birds were examined, of which 21 were infested. We collected 147 ticks, including Amblyomma dissimile (larvae), Amblyomma longirostre (nymphs), Amblyomma mixtum (adults), and Amblyomma nodosum (larvae and nymphs). We did not detect bacterial DNA in the tested ticks; however, piroplasm DNA was detected in ticks from three of the infested birds. Of the 21 bird-tick associations, six are new to the Americas, and interesting documentation of piroplasm DNA in A. longirostre, A. nodosum, and A. dissimile ticks from wild birds in the region. This study provides valuable insights into the ticks associated with wild birds and their role in the dispersal of ticks and pathogens in Colombia, enhancing our understanding of tick life cycles and tick-borne disease dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Busi
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia; Doctorado en Ciencias-Agrarias, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 64b No. 25-65 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Gabriel J Castaño-Villa
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 64b No. 25-65 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Fredy A Rivera-Páez
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia.
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Tchoumbou M, Harl J, Souaibou A, Iezhova T, Valkiūnas G. Molecular characterization of Haemoproteus enucleator with emphasis on the host and geographic distribution. Acta Trop 2024; 253:107154. [PMID: 38373526 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107154] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) are cosmopolitan and highly diverse blood parasites of birds that have been neglected in avian medicine. However, recent discoveries based on molecular diagnostic markers show that these pathogens often cause marked damage to various internal organs due to exo-erythrocytic development, sometimes resulting in severe and even lethal avian haemoproteosis, including cerebral pathologies. Molecular markers are essential for haemoproteosis diagnostics, but the data is limited, particularly for parasites transmitted in tropical ecosystems. This study combined microscopic and molecular approaches to characterize Haemoproteus enucleator morphologically and molecularly. Blood samples were collected from the African pygmy kingfisher Ispidina picta in Cameroon, and the parasite was identified using morphological characters of gametocytes. The analysis of partial cytochrome b sequences (cytb) identified a new Haemoproteus lineage (hISPIC03), which was linked to the morphospecies H. enucleator. Illustrations of blood stages were provided and the phylogenetic analysis showed that the new lineage clustered with five other closely related lineages belonging to the same morphospecies (hALCLEU01, hALCLEU02, hALCLEU03, hISPIC01, and hALCQUA01), with a maximum genetic distance between these lineages of 1.5 % (7 bp difference) in the 478 bp cytb sequences. DNA haplotype network was developed and identified geographic and host distribution of all lineages belonging to H. enucleator group. These lineages were almost exclusively detected in African kingfishers from Gabon, Cameroon, South Africa, and Botswana. This study developed the molecular characterization of H. enucleator and provides opportunities for diagnostics of this pathogen at all stages of its life cycle, which remains undescribed in all its closely related lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Tchoumbou
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; Biodiversity Initiative, Houghton, MI, USA.
| | - Josef Harl
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Aladji Souaibou
- Vector Borne Parasitic & Infectious Diseases Laboratory of the Applied Biology and Ecology Research Unit, University of Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Tatjana Iezhova
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Hammami I, Timoumi O, Larbi I, Rekik S, Maghzaoua D, Gharbi M. First report of Sarcocystis falcatula in naturally infected Razorbill auks (Alca torda) collected in Tunisian Mediterranean Sea shores. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:193. [PMID: 38656629 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08214-0] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Sarcocystis spp. are apicomplexan cyst-forming parasites that can infect numerous vertebrates, including birds. Sarcosporidiosis infection was investigated in three muscles (breast, right and left thigh muscle) and one organ (heart) of four Razorbill auks (Alca torda) stranded between November and December 2022 on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Nabeul and Bizerte governorates, Northern Tunisia. Two of the four tested A. torda were PCR positive for 18S rRNA Sarcocystis spp. gene. Among the examined 16 muscles/organs, only one breast and one right thigh were Sarcocystis spp. PCR-positive (12.5% ± 8.3, 2/16). Our results showed a relatively high molecular prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in Razorbill auks (A. torda). Sarcocystis spp. sequence described in the present study (GenBank number: OR516818) showed 99.56-100% identity to Sarcocystis falcatula. In conclusion, our results confirmed the infection of Razorbill auks (A. torda) by S. falcatula. Further research is needed on different migratory seabirds' species in order to identify other Sarcocystis species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Hammami
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
| | - Oumayma Timoumi
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Imen Larbi
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Veterinary Microbiology, LR 11 IPT 03, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Universite de Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Syrine Rekik
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Dhekra Maghzaoua
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Gharbi
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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Sato AP, Silva TCED, Pontes TPD, Konell AL, Barros LDD, Varaschin MS, Oliveira Junior IMD, Sanches AWD, Locatelli-Dittrich R. Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in seabirds collected along the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2024; 33:e003624. [PMID: 38656050 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612024019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two closely related protozoans that infect a wide range of animals, including birds. However, the occurrence of N. caninum and T. gondii in seabirds is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum DNA in tissue samples of seabirds. Tissue samples of the pectoral muscles, heart, and brain were collected from 47 birds along the coastline of Santa Catarina State, SC, Brazil. The DNA was extracted from the tissues and screened using nested-PCR (nPCR) targeting internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). T. gondii DNA was detected in tissues from seven seabirds (7/47, 14.8%), kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) (5/21), and Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) (2/8). N. caninum DNA was detected in tissues of nine seabirds (9/47, 19.1%), the kelp gull (L. dominicanus) (4/21), Manx shearwater (P. puffinus) (2/8), neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) (1/4), brown booby (Sula leucogaster) (1/5), and white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) (1/1); however, no co-infection was observed. In conclusion, this study showed the circulation of N. caninum and T. gondii in seabirds along the coastline of Santa Catarina State. Further studies are required to clarify the role of these birds in the epidemiology of neosporosis and toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Sato
- Departmento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
| | - Tiffany Christiny Emmerich da Silva
- Projeto de Monitoramento de Praias da Bacia de Santos - PMP-BS, Unidade de Estabilização de Aves Marinhas, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI, Penha, SC, Brasil
| | - Thamires Pires de Pontes
- Projeto de Monitoramento de Praias da Bacia de Santos - PMP-BS, Unidade de Estabilização de Aves Marinhas, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI, Penha, SC, Brasil
| | | | - Luiz Daniel de Barros
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária e Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brasil
| | - Mary Suzan Varaschin
- Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brasil
| | - Ivam Moreira de Oliveira Junior
- Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brasil
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Figuerola J, la Puente JMD, Díez-Fernández A, Thomson RL, Aguirre JI, Faivre B, Ibañez-Alamo JD. Urbanization correlates with the prevalence and richness of blood parasites in Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula). Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171303. [PMID: 38423334 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Urbanization is increasing worldwide, producing severe environmental impacts. Biodiversity is affected by the expansion of cities, with many species being unable to cope with the different human-induced stressors present in these landscapes. However, this knowledge is mainly based on research from taxa such as plants or vertebrates, while other organisms like protozoa have been less studied in this context. The impact of urbanization on the transmission of vector-borne pathogens in wildlife is still unclear despite its relevance for animal and human health. Here, we investigated whether cities are associated with changes in the prevalence and richness of lineages of three vector-borne protozoans (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) from multiple urban and forest areas in Europe. Our results show important species-specific differences between these two habitat types. We found a significant lower prevalence of Leucocytozoon in urban birds compared to forest birds, but no differences for Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. Furthermore, the richness of parasite lineages in European cities was higher for Plasmodium but lower for Leucocytozoon than in forests. We also found one Plasmodium lineage exclusively from cities while another of Leucocytozoon was only found in forests suggesting a certain level of habitat specialization for these protozoan vectors. Overall, our findings show that cities provide contrasting opportunities for the transmission of different vector-borne pathogens and generate new scenarios for the interactions between hosts, vectors and parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Alazne Díez-Fernández
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Robert L Thomson
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Bruno Faivre
- UMR CNRS 6282, Biogéosciences, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
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Schumm YR, Lederer-Ponzer N, Masello JF, Quillfeldt P. High prevalence of haemosporidian parasites in Eurasian jays. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:182. [PMID: 38622257 PMCID: PMC11018679 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08170-9] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Avian haemosporidians are vector-borne parasites, infecting a great variety of birds. The order Passeriformes has the highest average infection probability; nevertheless, some common species of Passeriformes have been rather poorly studied. We investigated haemosporidians in one such species, the Eurasian jay Garrulus glandarius (Corvidae), from a forest population in Hesse, Central Germany. All individuals were infected with at least one haemosporidian genus (overall prevalence: 100%). The most common infection pattern was a mixed Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon infection, whereas no Plasmodium infection was detected. Results on lineage diversity indicate a rather pronounced host-specificity of Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon lineages infecting birds of the family Corvidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne R Schumm
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Naemi Lederer-Ponzer
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Juan F Masello
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Republic of South Africa
| | - Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
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Kalyanasundaram A, Henry BJ, Henry C, Leach J, Kendall RJ. Selection of suitable reference genes for normalization of RT-qPCR in three tissues of Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) infected with eyeworm (Oxyspirura petrowi). Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:483. [PMID: 38578540 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09401-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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) is an economically important, and popular game bird in North America. Northern bobwhites have experiencing declines of > 3.5% annually in recent decades due to several factors. The eyeworm Oxyspirura petrowi is a nematode parasite frequently found in the eyes of bobwhites. Although reported frequently in wild bobwhites, there is no research to understand the host-parasite mechanism. Hence, it is important to investigate mechanisms of eyeworm invasion and immune modulation in bobwhite. Cytokine gene expression using RT-PCR is widely used to identify the innate immune response of a host to an infection. METHODOLOGY In this study, we evaluated ten reference genes (HMBS, RPL19, RPL32, RPS7, RPS8, TATA, SDHA, YWHAZ, GAPDH, and ACTB) for their stability across three tissues (liver, spleen, and caecal tonsils) of control and O. petrowi infected Northern bobwhites. Primer efficiency and reference genes stability were assessed using GeNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper. RESULTS Expression of these reference genes with respect to O. petrowi infection in bobwhites showed RPL32 and HMBS were the most stable genes in the liver, HMBS and SDHA were the most stable genes in the spleen, and HMBS and YWHAZ were equally stable reference genes in the caecal tonsils. CONCLUSION Based on the geometric mean of all three analyses, our results indicate that the combination of RPL32 and HMBS for the liver, HMBS and SDHA for the spleen, and YWHAZ and HMBS for caecal tonsils might be used as reference genes for normalization in gene expression investigations on Northern bobwhites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brett J Henry
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA
| | - Cassandra Henry
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA
| | - Jeremiah Leach
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA
| | - Ronald J Kendall
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA.
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Wyckoff ST, Judkins TC, Nemeth NM, Ruder MG, Martin JA, Kunkel MR, Garrett KB, Adcock KG, Mead DG, Yabsley MJ. Surveillance for Selected Pathogens and Parasites of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) from Western Oklahoma, USA, 2018-20. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:346-361. [PMID: 38314860 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00102] [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] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) has been undergoing a range-wide population decline. Potential causes for declines across its historic range have been investigated for decades and include habitat loss and fragmentation and a variety of parasitic and infectious diseases. Although there have been studies on bobwhite ecology in Oklahoma, USA, relatively little is known about parasites and pathogens in the region. We evaluated the health of free-ranging bobwhites from nine sites in western Oklahoma. From 2018 to 2020, 206 bobwhites were evaluated for gross and microscopic lesions and tested for selected pathogens. In general, bobwhites were in good nutritional condition with ample muscle mass and fat stores. No significant gross lesions were observed in any bobwhite and no significant histologic lesions were detected in a subset. There was no evidence of infection with or exposure to reticuloendotheliosis virus, West Nile virus, respiratory Mycoplasmataceae species, Pasteurella multocida, intestinal Eimeria spp., or oral Trichomonas spp. Several pathogens of potential concern were detected, including avian adenovirus (8.6%), Toxoplasma gondii (2.3%), and haemosporidians (a Haemoproteus sp. (1.5%), Leucocytozoon schoutedeni (1.5%), and Plasmodium homopolare haplotype 2 [lineage LAIRI01; 3.6%]). Physaloptera sp. (12%) and Sarcocystis sp. (1%) were detected in the breast muscle. Low intraspecific genetic diversity was noted for Physaloptera sp., and sequences were most similar to Physaloptera sequences from bobwhites and grasshoppers (Orthoptera) in Texas. Low intensities of chewing lice, chiggers, and ticks were observed. A subset of bobwhites had evidence of exposure to selected toxicants and heavy metals; a small number had low levels of iron, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, and copper, which were not considered diagnostically relevant. In general, bobwhites from western Oklahoma appeared to be in good health with a low diversity of pathogens detected, but future work is needed to understand potentially changing disease risks for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth T Wyckoff
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E. Green Street, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Tell C Judkins
- Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, 1801 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152, USA
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Department of Pathology, 501 D. W. Brooks Drive, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Mark G Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - James A Martin
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E. Green Street, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Melanie R Kunkel
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Kayla B Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E. Green Street, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Kayla G Adcock
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Daniel G Mead
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E. Green Street, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, 140 E. Green Street, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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Sgarioni AZ, Serafini P, Pereira A, Emmerich T, Pontes TPD, Machado DC, Ribeiro PR, Amorim DBD, Klafke G, Reck J. Molecular Survey of Haemosporidian Parasites in Procellariiformes Sampled in Southern Brazil, 2013-22. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:413-420. [PMID: 38294761 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00087] [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] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The order Procellariiformes includes several species of seabirds that perform long-distance migrations crossing all the oceans. These movements may contribute to the dispersal and exchange of hemoparasites, such as haemosporidians. There is a lack of studies regarding the order Haemosporida in Procellariiformes, and, to date, only the genus Plasmodium has been reported. This survey investigated the occurrence of the three genera of haemosporidians, Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon, in samples collected between 2013 and 2022 from 95 individuals of 14 species of Procellariiformes from southern Brazil, including live animals in rehabilitation centers, individuals caught as incidental bycatch, and carcasses found along the coast. A total of 171 samples of blood and fragments of liver and spleen were analyzed, with extracted DNA being subjected to a nested PCR followed by phylogeny analysis. All animals were negative for Plasmodium spp. and Leucocytozoon spp., but one Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) and one Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) specimen were positive for Haemoproteus spp. The sequences obtained from positive seabirds did not show 100% similarity with other known lineages available in the MalAvi database and thus were probably novel lineages. However, one sequence clustered together with Haemoproteus noctuae, a parasite from Strigiformes, while the other was grouped with Haemoproteus columbae, which is classically related to Columbiformes. These results suggest that both positive animals may have become infected when beached or in rehabilitation centers by a spillover of vectors from local birds. This highlights the importance of surveillance of the health of Procellariiformes regarding the possibility of dissemination of new pathogens in different bird populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise Zabel Sgarioni
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, 92990-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Patricia Serafini
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres (CEMAVE), Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Rodovia Maurício Sirotski Sobrinho s/n, Florianópolis, 88053-700, SC, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biomarcadores de Contaminação Aquática e Imunoquímica (LABCAI), Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Rua João Pio Duarte Silva, 241, bloco F, Florianópolis, 88040-900, SC, Brazil
| | - Alice Pereira
- Projeto Albatroz, Rodovia SC 402, Km 2, Rio Vermelho, Florianópolis, 88061-500, SC, Brazil
| | - Tiffany Emmerich
- Unidade de Estabilização de Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale de Itajaí (UNIVALI), Avenida Itacolumi, 228, Penha, 88385-000, SC, Brazil
| | - Thamires Pires de Pontes
- Unidade de Estabilização de Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale de Itajaí (UNIVALI), Avenida Itacolumi, 228, Penha, 88385-000, SC, Brazil
| | - Douglas Coutinho Machado
- Unidade de Estabilização de Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale de Itajaí (UNIVALI), Avenida Itacolumi, 228, Penha, 88385-000, SC, Brazil
| | - Paula Reis Ribeiro
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9090, Porto Alegre, 90650-001, RS, Brazil
| | - Derek Blaese de Amorim
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9090, Porto Alegre, 90650-001, RS, Brazil
- Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnológicos e Marinhos (CECLIMAR), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Tramandaí, 976, Imbé, 95625-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Klafke
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, 92990-000, RS, Brazil
| | - José Reck
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, 92990-000, RS, Brazil
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10
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Waller MM, Warr HM, Goodman GB, Bush SE, Clayton DH. INFLUENCE OF GROOMING ON PERMANENT ARTHROPOD ASSOCIATES OF BIRDS: CATTLE EGRETS, LICE, AND MITES. J Parasitol 2024; 110:143-149. [PMID: 38561014 DOI: 10.1645/23-85] [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] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Birds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We tested the role of these claws in the control of arthropods by experimentally removing teeth from the claws of captive western cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) infested with chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera), feather mites (Acari: Sarcoptiformes), and nasal mites (Acari: Mesostigmata). After a period of 4 mo, we compared the abundance of arthropods on experimental birds to that of control birds with intact teeth. We used video to quantify the grooming rates of the captive birds, which groomed twice as much as wild birds. Experimental and control birds did not differ significantly in grooming time. Both groups virtually eradicated the chewing lice, but not feather mites or nasal mites. We found no support for the hypothesis that pectinate claws increase the efficiency of arthropod control by grooming. Experiments with wild birds are needed to test the hypothesis further under conditions in which birds devote less time to grooming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Waller
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Hannah M Warr
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Graham B Goodman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Sarah E Bush
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Dale H Clayton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
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11
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Zhang Y, Lu Z, Liu Z, Zhou Y, Xiao G, Opeyemi AO, Jin S, Li Y, Liu T, Wu Q, Sun X, Xu Q, Zhang Q, Yang C. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Trichomonas gallinae from pigeons in Anhui, China. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 107:102157. [PMID: 38484424 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102157] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Trichomonas gallinae, a protozoan parasite causing avian trichomonosis, exhibits a widespread global prevalence. It primarily affects the upper digestive tract of birds and has resulted in significant ecological problems worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotypes of T. gallinae in Anhui Province, China. A total of 1612 oropharyngeal swab samples were collected from pigeon farms in Anhui Province to determine the prevalence of T. gallinae infection. The results revealed 565 (35.1%) positive samples of T. gallinae. Significant differences in infection rates were observed among different regions and age groups. Furthermore, the ITS1/5.8 S/ITS2 region was amplified, sequenced, and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Genotypes A and B of T. gallinae were identified, and genotype B was the dominant genotype in Anhui Province. This is the first report on the prevalence and molecular characterization of T. gallinae in Anhui Province, China. Additionally, we integrated reports on the prevalence and genotype of T. gallinae in relevant provinces in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilei Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Zhenxiao Lu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Zhenzhen Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Yuhan Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Guodong Xiao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Ayanniyi Olalekan Opeyemi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Sihua Jin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Yongsheng Li
- Huangshan Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Huangshan 242700, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Huangshan District Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Huangshan 242700, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Jiujiang District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service Center, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Xingdong Sun
- School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Qianming Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Qingxun Zhang
- Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing 100076, China.
| | - Congshan Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China.
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12
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Park E, Leander B. Coinfection of slime feather duster worms (Annelida, Myxicola) by different gregarine apicomplexans ( Selenidium) and astome ciliates reflects spatial niche partitioning and host specificity. Parasitology 2024; 151:400-411. [PMID: 38465385 PMCID: PMC11044062 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182024000209] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Individual organisms can host multiple species of parasites (or symbionts), and one species of parasite can infect different host species, creating complex interactions among multiple hosts and parasites. When multiple parasite species coexist in a host, they may compete or use strategies, such as spatial niche partitioning, to reduce competition. Here, we present a host–symbiont system with two species of Selenidium (Apicomplexa, Gregarinida) and one species of astome ciliate co-infecting two different species of slime feather duster worms (Annelida, Sabellidae, Myxicola) living in neighbouring habitats. We examined the morphology of the endosymbionts with light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inferred their phylogenetic interrelationships using small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences. In the host ‘Myxicola sp. Quadra’, we found two distinct species of Selenidium; S. cf. mesnili exclusively inhabited the foregut, and S. elongatum n. sp. inhabited the mid to hindgut, reflecting spatial niche partitioning. Selenidium elongatum n. sp. was also present in the host M. aesthetica, which harboured the astome ciliate Pennarella elegantia n. gen. et sp. Selenidium cf. mesnili and P. elegantia n. gen. et sp. were absent in the other host species, indicating host specificity. This system offers an intriguing opportunity to explore diverse aspects of host–endosymbiont interactions and competition among endosymbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunji Park
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Hakai Institute, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brian Leander
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Hakai Institute, British Columbia, Canada
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13
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Halliday B, Taggers A, Herrod A. A record of the parasitic mite Hemimyialges macdonaldi (Evans et al. 1963) (Acari: Epidermoptidae) in the Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster (Latham, 1790) (Psittaciformes: Psittaculidae) in Australia. Aust Vet J 2024; 102:96-100. [PMID: 38126166 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13308] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The subcutaneous parasitic mite Hemimyialges macdonaldi was found in a specimen of the Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster that died in captivity. A review of the host range and geographic distribution of this mite shows it is cosmopolitan and occurs in a very wide range of birds. It does not appear to be a cause of significant mortality in its hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Halliday
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - A Taggers
- The Unusual Pet Vets, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia
| | - A Herrod
- Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, Pearcedale, Victoria, 3912, Australia
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14
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Sychra O, Sušilová L, Najer T, Literák I, Papoušek I, Martinů J, Trnka A, Capek M. Chewing lice of Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) and diversity of louse-host associations of birds in reed beds in Slovakia. Parasite 2024; 31:8. [PMID: 38334688 PMCID: PMC10854484 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024006] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
A total of 1,621 wild birds representing 34 species were examined for chewing lice in reed beds in southwestern Slovakia during the pre-breeding migration 2008-2009 and 2016-2019. A total of 377 (23.3%) birds representing 15 species were parasitized by 26 species of chewing lice of 12 genera. Dominant genera were Penenirmus (with dominance 32.6%) and Menacanthus (29.4%), followed by Brueelia (12.6%), Acronirmus (10.8%), Philopterus (7.7%), and Myrsidea (4.2%). We evaluated 33 host-louse associations including both 1) host-generalist, parasitizing more than one host species and host-specific lice, occurring only on a single host species, and 2) lice species with large range geographic distribution, reported across the range of the distribution of their hosts and lice species with only occasional records from a limited area within the range of their hosts. The Bearded Reedling, Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758), was parasitized by two species of chewing lice, Menacanthus brelihi Balát, 1981 and Penenirmus visendus (Złotorzycka, 1964), with conspicuously different prevalences (5.6% vs. 58.2%, respectively; n = 251). New material enabled us to redescribe both species of lice: the first one is resurrected from previous synonymy as a valid species. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene was sequenced from these two species in order to assess their relative phylogenetic position within their genera. Our study demonstrates the importance of an adequate identification of parasites, especially on rarely examined and endangered hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oldřich Sychra
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Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Palackeho tr. 1946/1 61242 Brno Czechia
| | - Lucie Sušilová
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Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Palackeho tr. 1946/1 61242 Brno Czechia
| | - Tomáš Najer
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Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamycka 129 165 00 Prague 6 Czechia
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Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL 61820 USA
| | - Ivan Literák
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Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Palackeho tr. 1946/1 61242 Brno Czechia
| | - Ivo Papoušek
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Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Palackeho tr. 1946/1 61242 Brno Czechia
| | - Jana Martinů
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Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czechia
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Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i České Budějovice Czechia
| | - Alfréd Trnka
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Department of Biology, University of Trnava Priemyselna 4 918 43 Trnava Slovakia
| | - Miroslav Capek
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Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i Kvetna 8 603 65 Brno Czechia
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15
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Harl J, Fauchois A, Puech MP, Gey D, Ariey F, Izac B, Weissenböck H, Chakarov N, Iezhova T, Valkiūnas G, Duval L. Novel phylogenetic clade of avian Haemoproteus parasites (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) from Accipitridae raptors, with description of a new Haemoproteus species. Parasite 2024; 31:5. [PMID: 38334685 PMCID: PMC10854483 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023066] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian haemosporidian parasites (order Haemosporida, phylum Apicomplexa) are blood and tissue parasites transmitted by blood-sucking dipteran insects. Three genera (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) have been most often found in birds, with over 270 species described and named in avian hosts based mainly on the morphological characters of blood stages. A broad diversity of Haemoproteus parasites remains to be identified and characterized morphologically and molecularly, especially those infecting birds of prey, an underrepresented bird group in haemosporidian parasite studies. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify Haemoproteus parasites from a large sample comprising accipitriform raptors of 16 species combining morphological and new molecular protocols targeting the cytb genes of this parasite group. This study provides morphological descriptions and molecular characterizations of two Haemoproteus species, H. multivacuolatus n. sp. and H. nisi Peirce and Marquiss, 1983. Haemoproteus parasites of this group were so far found in accipitriform raptors only and might be classified into a separate subgenus or even genus. Cytb sequences of these parasites diverge by more than 15% from those of all others known avian haemosporidian genera and form a unique phylogenetic clade. This study underlines the importance of developing new diagnostic tools to detect molecularly highly divergent parasites that might be undetectable by commonly used conventional tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Harl
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Veterinaerplatz 1 1210 Vienna Austria
| | - Anaïs Fauchois
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52 57 rue Cuvier 75231 Cedex 05 Paris France
| | - Marie-Pierre Puech
- Hôpital de la faune sauvage des Garrigues et Cévennes – Goupil Connexion 34190 Brissac France
| | - Delphine Gey
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52 57 rue Cuvier 75231 Cedex 05 Paris France
| | - Frédéric Ariey
- Université de Paris, INSERM 1016, Institut Cochin, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie Hôpital Cochin Paris France
| | - Brigitte Izac
- Université de Paris, INSERM 1016, Institut Cochin, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie Hôpital Cochin Paris France
| | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Veterinaerplatz 1 1210 Vienna Austria
| | - Nayden Chakarov
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University Konsequenz 45 33615 Bielefeld Germany
| | | | | | - Linda Duval
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52 57 rue Cuvier 75231 Cedex 05 Paris France
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16
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Amaral HLDC, Bergmann FB, Santos PRS, Remião MH, Krüger RF, Silveira T. Distribution of phoretic mites and lice in Pseudolynchia canariensis living on pigeons and the relationship with seasonality, carrier sex, plumage coloration and age of definitive hosts. Acta Trop 2024; 249:107068. [PMID: 37951328 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107068] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Among the parasites, some groups that have a limited capacity for locomotion, such as mites and lice, the transmission is challenging to win. These ectoparasites disperse through direct contact between hosts or, in some cases, through phoresy. However, these processes are not well-documented in detail because they are difficult to observe and quantify. In the present study, the patterns of distribution of skin mites and phoretic lice on hippoboscid louse fly Pseudolynchia canariensis sampled from Columba livia were evaluated. The analyzed pigeons were juveniles and adults, with three distinct plumage colors: blue checker, spread, or wild type, and were caught over 24 months. A total of 1,381 hippoboscid flies were collected on 377 hosts. The plumage color did not influence the infestation patterns of louse flies on juvenile and adult pigeons, nor did it influence the infestation patterns of skin mites and phoretic lice on the hippoboscid flies. However, the environmental temperature was directly related to higher prevalence, mean infestation intensity, and phoretic species richness on P. canariensis during the hottest seasons. Furthermore, a higher abundance of phoretic mite eggs, including embryonated eggs, was observed in females of P. canariensis in all seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Leonardo da Cunha Amaral
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Av. Eliseu Maciel, s/n, Instituto de Biologia: Travessa André Dreyfus, s/n - Prédio 19, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul CEP: 96010-610, Brazil.
| | - Fabiane Borba Bergmann
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Mariana Härter Remião
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ferreira Krüger
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Av. Eliseu Maciel, s/n, Instituto de Biologia: Travessa André Dreyfus, s/n - Prédio 19, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul CEP: 96010-610, Brazil
| | - Tony Silveira
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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17
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Procházka P, Emmenegger T, Bauer S, Ciloglu A, Dimitrov D, Hansson B, Hasselquist D, Yohannes E, Zehtindjiev P, Bensch S. The association between haemosporidian infection and non-breeding moult location in great reed warblers revisited by combining feather stable isotope profiles and geolocator data. Oecologia 2024; 204:107-118. [PMID: 38141067 PMCID: PMC10830769 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05491-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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Stable isotope analysis provides valuable insights into the ecology of long-distance migratory birds during periods spent away from a specific study site. In a previous study, Swedish great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) infected with haemosporidian parasites differed in feather isotope ratios compared to non-infected birds, suggesting that infected and non-infected birds spent the non-breeding season in different locations or habitats. Here, we use a novel dataset comprising geolocator data, isotopes, and haemosporidian infection status of 92 individuals from four Eurasian populations to investigate whether parasite transmission varies with geography or habitats. We found that the probability of harbouring Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon parasites was higher in birds moulting in the eastern region of the non-breeding grounds. However, no geographic pattern occurred for Haemoproteus infections or overall infection status. In contrast to the previous study, we did not find any relationship between feather isotope ratios and overall haemosporidian infection for the entire current dataset. Plasmodium-infected birds had lower feather δ15N values indicating that they occupied more mesic habitats. Leucocytozoon-infected birds had higher feather δ34S values suggesting more coastal sites or wetlands with anoxic sulphate reduction. As the composition and prevalence of haemosporidian parasites differed between the old and the current dataset, we suggest that the differences might be a consequence of temporal dynamics of haemosporidian parasites. Our results emphasize the importance of replicating studies conducted on a single population over a restricted time period, as the patterns can become more complex for data from wider geographical areas and different time periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Procházka
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Tamara Emmenegger
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Department Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Silke Bauer
- Department Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Arif Ciloglu
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, 38280, Kayseri, Turkey
- Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, 38280, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Dimitar Dimitrov
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Street, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Bengt Hansson
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dennis Hasselquist
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Elizabeth Yohannes
- Department Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Pavel Zehtindjiev
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Street, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
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18
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Himmel T, Harl J, Matt J, Nedorost N, Lunardi M, Ilgūnas M, Iezhova T, Valkiūnas G, Weissenböck H. Co-infecting Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa) show different host tissue tropism during exo-erythrocytic development in Fringilla coelebs (Fringillidae). Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:1-22. [PMID: 37598774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.07.004] [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: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Avian haemosporidians of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon are common blood parasites in wild birds all over the world. Despite their importance as pathogens potentially compromising host fitness and health, little is known about the exo-erythrocytic development of these parasites, particularly during co-infections which predominate in wildlife. This study aimed to address this issue using Haemoproteus parasites of Fringilla coelebs, a common bird species of the Western Palearctic and host to a variety of haemosporidian parasite lineages. Blood and tissue samples of 20 F. coelebs, positive for haemosporidians by blood film microscopy, were analysed by PCR and sequencing to determine cytochrome b lineages of the parasites. Tissue sections were examined for exo-erythrocytic stages by histology and in situ hybridization applying genus-, species-, and lineage-specific probes which target the 18S rRNA of the parasites. In addition, laser microdissection of tissue stages was performed to identify parasite lineages. Combined molecular results of PCR, laser microdissection, and in situ hybridization showed a high rate of co-infections, with Haemoproteus lineages dominating. Exo-erythrocytic meronts of five Haemoproteus spp. were described for the first known time, including Haemoproteus magnus hCCF6, Haemoproteus fringillae hCCF3, Haemoproteus majoris hCCF5, Haemoproteus sp. hROFI1, and Haemoproteus sp. hCCF2. Merogonic stages were observed in the vascular system, presenting a formerly unknown mode of exo-erythrocytic development in Haemoproteus parasites. Meronts and megalomeronts of these species were distinct regarding their morphology and organ distribution, indicating species-specific patterns of merogony and different host tissue tropism. New pathological aspects of haemoproteosis were reported. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of Haemoproteus spp. with regard to their exo-erythrocytic stages points towards separation of non-megalomeront-forming species from megalomeront-forming species, calling for further studies on exo-erythrocytic development of haemosporidian parasites to explore the phylogenetic character of this trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Himmel
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Josef Harl
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Matt
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nora Nedorost
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Madeleine Lunardi
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mikas Ilgūnas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Tatjana Iezhova
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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Grossi AA, Tian C, Ren M, Zou F, Gustafsson DR. Co-phylogeny of a hyper-symbiotic system: Endosymbiotic bacteria (Gammaproteobacteria), chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) and birds (Passeriformes). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 190:107957. [PMID: 37914031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107957] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Chewing lice are hosts to endosymbiotic bacteria as well as themselves being permanent parasites. This offers a unique opportunity to examine the cophylogenetic relationships between three ecologically interconnected organismal groups: birds, chewing lice, and bacteria. Here, we examine the cophylogenetic relationships between lice in the genus Guimaraesiella Eichler, 1949, their endosymbiotic Sodalis-allied bacteria, and a range of bird species from across South China. Both event and distance-based cophylogenetic analyses were explored to compare phylogenies of the three organismal groups. Pair-wise comparisons between lice-endosymbionts and bird-endosymbionts indicated that their evolutionary histories are not independent. However, comparisons between lice and birds, showed mixed results; the distance-based method of ParaFit indicated that their evolutionary histories are not independent, while the event-based method of Jane indicated that their phylogenies were no more congruent than expected by chance. Notably, louse host-switching does not seem to have affected bacterial strains, as conspecific lice sampled from distantly related hosts share bacteria belonging to the same clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra A Grossi
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Library of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 105 Xingang West Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Chunpo Tian
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Library of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 105 Xingang West Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China; College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, 620 West Chang'an Street, Chang'an District, Xi'an City 710119, Shaanxi Province, China.
| | - Mengjiao Ren
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Library of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 105 Xingang West Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China; College of Biology and Environmental Science, Jishou University, 120 Renmin Road, Jishou 416000, Hunan Province, China.
| | - Fasheng Zou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Library of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 105 Xingang West Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Daniel R Gustafsson
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Library of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 105 Xingang West Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China.
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20
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Suber HN, Leach J, Conley KA, Rivera R, Surles JG, Kendall RJ. IMPLICATIONS OF TREATING PARASITIC INFECTION IN NORTHERN BOBWHITE (COLINUS VIRGINIANUS) ON OVERALL HELMINTH LIFE CYCLE. J Parasitol 2024; 110:1-7. [PMID: 38232761 DOI: 10.1645/23-21] [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] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine how reducing the parasite burden in a definitive host may affect the prevalence in intermediate hosts. Here we used the eyeworm Oxyspirura petrowi and cecal worm Aulonocephalus pennula as model species. Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) were provided an anthelmintic medicated feed in wild systems because of convincing evidence that these parasites were suppressing their populations. Eyeworm and cecal worm prevalence were measured in Orthopterans, which act as intermediate hosts, using polymerase chain reaction. Individuals were collected from a control site, a site treated for 2 yr, and a site treated for 5 yr. Orthopteran community composition was significantly different among the sites; however, an interaction between subfamily and site was not significant for the eyeworm. There was a significant reduction in eyeworm-infected Orthopterans on the 5-yr site compared with the other 2, suggesting that treatment of a definitive host may indeed affect the prevalence of eyeworms during other life-cycle stages. There was an interaction between the Orthopteran subfamily and the site for the cecal worm, so results were analyzed within each subfamily. A significant reduction in the prevalence of cecal worms was only found in the Cyrtacanthacridinae subfamily on the 5-yr site when compared with the other sites. However, the greatest prevalence in the Gomphocerinae and Oedipodinae subfamilies across all 3 sites was 4.1%. This indicates an unknown degree of cecal worm host specificity. Therefore, conclusions could not be made through the simple assessment of prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah N Suber
- Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 43290, Lubbock, Texas 79409
| | - Jeremiah Leach
- Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 43290, Lubbock, Texas 79409
| | - Katelyn A Conley
- Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 43290, Lubbock, Texas 79409
| | - Regan Rivera
- Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 43290, Lubbock, Texas 79409
| | - James G Surles
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 4102, Lubbock, Texas 79409
| | - Ronald J Kendall
- Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 43290, Lubbock, Texas 79409
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21
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Reinoso-Pérez MT, Dhondt KV, Dulcet H, Katzenstein N, Sydenstricker AV, Dhondt AA. Seasonal Variation in Detection of Haemosporidia in a Bird Community: A Comparison of Nested PCR and Microscopy. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:105-115. [PMID: 37909407 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00023] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
In a 2-yr study on prevalence of Haemosporidia in an avian community in Ithaca, New York, USA, we tested the hypothesis that apparent seasonal variation in prevalence is influenced by the detection protocol. We confirmed a higher detection of Haemosporidia using a molecular diagnosis technique (PCR) than by microscopy; this further increased when the PCR test was triplicated. Microscopic examination and PCR techniques have different specificity and sensitivity and therefore different probabilities of detecting hemoparasites. Birds with chronic infections or sampled during winter often have very low parasitemia, and such infections may be missed by microscopy but detected by PCR. Haemosporidian prevalence was higher during the breeding season than during the nonbreeding season regardless of the method used. Detection of Leucocytozoon spp. infection from blood smears using microscopy was challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Reinoso-Pérez
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Fernow Hall, 226 Mann Dr., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Laboratory of Ornithology, 59 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Keila V Dhondt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, 602 Tower Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Holland Dulcet
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 602 Tower Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Present address: Westfield Veterinary Group, 562 Springfield Ave., Westfield, New Jersey 07090, USA
| | - Nina Katzenstein
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 602 Tower Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Agnes V Sydenstricker
- Department of Integrative Neurosciences, no. 230B, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA
- Present address: Microbiology & Immunology Department, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York 10461, USA
| | - André A Dhondt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Corson/Mudd Hall, 215 Tower Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Laboratory of Ornithology, 59 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
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Haas M, Ploščicová L. Contribution to ecological environmental factors and the occurrence of haemosporidians in birds in Zhongar Alatau National Park, Kazakhstan. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:68. [PMID: 38135737 PMCID: PMC10746751 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08097-7] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
In addition to the presence of a suitable host and vector, the prevalence of haemosporidians is influenced by several important factors, including the environmental conditions of the habitat, which depend on broader geographic characteristics. The aim of this study is to perform a preliminarily assessment of the distribution of blood parasites in birds from the mountainous area of Zhongar Alatau NP and to find potential new sites for research on their ecology in Kazakhstan. The results of this research constitute the first report on the occurrence of blood parasites from this area. A total of 58 birds, from the order Passeriformes and one individual from the order Caprimulgiformes, were examined during the study. The overall prevalence of infections caused by haemosporidian parasites (Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon) was 18.6%. Neither the genus Plasmodium nor the presence of trypanosomes and microfilariae was detected in the birds examined. Three birds (5.1% prevalence) were infected with parasites of the genus Haemoproteus, in all eleven positive birds the analyses showed the presence of parasites of the genus Leucocytozoon (18.6% prevalence). The presence of parasites genus Haemoproteus was detected only in birds that were also infected with Leucocytozoon parasites. More infections with parasites of the genus Leucocytozoon are predicted due to the higher altitude and ecological factors at the capture sites, which are more favourable for the development of vectors of this genus. The species Haemoproteus majoris was detected in the host Emberiza cioides and species Haemoproteus minutus in host Turdus merula. Other species of this genus in the hosts Cyanistes cyanus and Turdus atrogularis were not determined. The species Leucocytozoon fringilinarum was detected in the hosts Cyanistes cyanus and Parus major, Leucocytozoon dubreuili was detected in Turdus atrogularis and Turdus merula. In the other host species Aegithalos caudatus, Emberiza cioides and Periparus aterus, it was not possible to dermine the species of the genus Leucocytozoon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Haas
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, Žilina University, Tatranská Javorina 7, 059 56, Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Ploščicová
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, Žilina University, Tatranská Javorina 7, 059 56, Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia
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23
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Garbin LE, Servián A, Fuentes L, Morgenthaler A, Millones A, Fuchs D, Diaz JI, Navone GT. Phylogenetic relationship between Contracaecum spp. (Nematoda, Anisakidae) parasitizing cormorants (Aves, Phalacrocoracidae) in Argentina. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:61. [PMID: 38112785 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08070-4] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Species of the genus Contracaecum (Family Anisakidae) exhibit a broad host and geographical distribution, parasitizing aquatic organisms such as piscivorous birds and mammals as their definitive hosts. Several Contracaecum species have been reported parasitizing cormorants (Family: Phalacrocoracidae) in South America. The objective of this study was to highlight phylogenetic relationships between Contracaecum species parasitizing cormorants based on both molecular analyses and the papillae arrangement on the male tail. Some Contracaecum species parasitizing Red-legged cormorants from the Ría Deseado (RD), and other nematodes parasitizing eight Neotropic cormorants from San Miguel del Monte lagoon (SMML), Argentina, were collected and analyzed. Both morphological and phylogenetic analyses allowed us to recognize two species: Contracaecum chubutensis parasitizing Phalacrocorax gaimardi, and Contracaecum australe parasitic in Phalacrocorax brasilianus. According to the obtained sequences (mtDNA cox2, ITS1, ITS2, and SSrRNA), Contracaecum sp. parasitizing P. gaimardi exhibited concordance with the previously reported C. chubutensis parasitizing P. atriceps from Bahía Bustamante, Chubut province. Likewise, Contracaecum sp. isolates parasitizing P. brasilianus showed concordance with C. australe from Chile. Besides, the papillae arrangement on the male tail allowed us to understand the interspecific and genetic relationships between the Contracaecum species. The analyses confirm that C. chubutensis specimens parasitizing P. gaimardi from RD present a new host record for the species, whereas, those C. australe specimens parasitizing P. brasilianus from SMML provide a new geographical record for the species and the extension of its distribution range. Present results also confirm the inland and marine distribution of C. australe and C. chubutensis, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas E Garbin
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), 120 s/n e/61 y 62, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Andrea Servián
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), 120 s/n e/61 y 62, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lautaro Fuentes
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), 120 s/n e/61 y 62, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Annick Morgenthaler
- Centro de Investigaciones Puerto Deseado, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral, Av. Prefectura Naval s/n, 9050, Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz, Argentina
| | - Ana Millones
- Centro de Investigaciones Puerto Deseado, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral, Av. Prefectura Naval s/n, 9050, Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz, Argentina
| | - Daniela Fuchs
- Sección Ornitología, División Zoología Vertebrados (FCNyM-UNLP-CONICET), Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julia I Diaz
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), 120 s/n e/61 y 62, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Graciela T Navone
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), 120 s/n e/61 y 62, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Jarayseh B, Amaya M, Gustafsson DR. Review of the chewing louse fauna of the invasive common myna (Acridotheres tristis), with new records from Palestine and a redescription of Brueelia chayanh Ansari, 1955 (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera, Brueelia-complex). Zootaxa 2023; 5383:325-351. [PMID: 38221246 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5383.3.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Palestine hosts a large diversity of birds, with 393 recorded species, but little data are available on the chewing lice fauna found on these birds. In this study, we surveyed the species of chewing lice found on the common myna, Acridotheres tristis, which is one of the most invasive bird species in the world. Forty-five mynas were examined to collect their ectoparasites, which were preserved and slide mounted. Among the 1004 chewing lice processed, we identified two species: Menacanthus eurysternus (Burmeister, 1838) (prevalence 100%) and Brueelia chayanh Ansari, 1955 (prevalence 82.2%). No other species of chewing louse known from A. tristis in its native range was found, showing a possible sorting event in the founding population of common myna in the region. Prevalence (100%) and abundance (22.3) were high compared to similar studies of the common myna. To contribute to future research on the lice of common mynas, we provide an annotated checklist of the louse species reported from this host globally. Also, we redescribe and illustrate Brueelia chayanh, and place Sturnidoecus tristisae Bughio et al., 2018 as a new junior synonym of Sturnidoecus bannoo Ansari, 1968.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashar Jarayseh
- Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Bethlehem University; Bethlehem; Palestine; Environmental Education Center (EEC/ELCJHL); Beit Jala; Palestine.
| | - Maria Amaya
- Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Bethlehem University; Bethlehem; Palestine.
| | - Daniel R Gustafsson
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization; Institute of Zoology; Guangdong Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; China.
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Emmenegger T, Riello S, Schmid R, Serra L, Spina F, Hahn S. Avian Haemosporidians Infecting Short- and Long-Distance Migratory Old World Flycatcher Species and the Variation in Parasitaemia After Endurance Flights. Acta Parasitol 2023; 68:746-753. [PMID: 37589880 PMCID: PMC10665221 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00710-0] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Avian haemosporidians are widespread parasites, occurring in many bird families and causing pathologies ranging from rather benign infections to highly virulent diseases. The state of knowledge about lineage-specific intensities of haemosporidian infection (i.e., parasitaemia) is mainly based on infection experiments conducted under laboratory conditions. The levels and range of parasitaemia in natural host-parasite associations as well as their influencing factor remain largely unexplored. METHODS Thus, we explored the parasitaemia of four songbird species (i.e., European Robins, Black and Common Redstarts and Whinchats) during migration by screening individuals upon landing on an insular passage site after extensive endurance flights to (1) describe their natural host-parasite associations, (2) quantify parasitaemia and (3) explore potential host- and parasite-related factors influencing parasitaemia. RESULTS We found 68% of Whinchats to be infected with haemosporidians, which is more frequent than any other of the studied host species (30-34%). Furthermore, we confirmed that parasitaemia of Haemoproteus infections was higher than average Plasmodium infections. Median parasitaemia levels were rather low (parasite cells in 0.01% of hosts' red blood cells) and varied largely among the different parasite lineages. However, we found four individuals hosting infections with parasitaemia higher than typical chronic infections. CONCLUSIONS Based on the known transmission areas of the respective lineages, we argue that these higher intensity infections might be relapses of consisting infections rather than acute phases of recent primary infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Emmenegger
- Bird Migration department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland.
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Sara Riello
- Riserva Naturale Statale "I Sole di Ventotene e S.Stefano", Ventotene, Italy
| | - Raffaella Schmid
- Bird Migration department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Serra
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano Emilia, , BO, Italy
| | - Fernando Spina
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano Emilia, , BO, Italy
| | - Steffen Hahn
- Bird Migration department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
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Barbon H, Berthoud JL, Woog F, Musa S. Haemosporidian parasite infections of Malagasy Philepittidae and Nectariniidae are driven by phylogeny rather than ecology. Parasitology 2023; 150:1316-1329. [PMID: 38087861 PMCID: PMC10941219 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023001075] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
The nectarivorous common sunbird asity (Neodrepanis coruscans) is phylogenetically closely related to the frugivorous velvet asity (Philepitta castanea), yet it shares similar habitat and foraging behaviour as the Malagasy sunbirds (Cinnyris spp.). As ecological factors have been shown to influence blood parasite prevalence, it should be tested whether parasite abundance, prevalence and diversity of N. coruscans are more similar to the sunbirds than to its relative. Therefore, blood samples (n = 156) and smears (n = 60) were tested for different blood parasites (Haemosporida, trypanosomes, filarioid nematodes) using molecular and microscopic methods. High prevalence of haemosporidian parasites was observed in all bird taxa, with rates ranging from 23% in N. coruscans to 84.6% in C. notatus. The Malagasy Cinnyris spp. exhibited a high occurrence of mixed haemosporidian infections (>76%) with various specialized lineages. Within the Philepittidae family, no Haemoproteus infection was detected and just a few cases of mixed infections. Nectariniidae species predominantly had specialized haemosporidian lineages, while Philepittidae had infections mainly caused by generalist lineages. These findings emphasize the diverse range of blood parasites in Nectariniidae, while additionally highlighting the high diversity of trypanosomes and filarioid nematodes in Philepittidae. Additionally, several newly discovered haemosporidian lineages, Trypanosoma isolates and filarioid nematode isolates were identified. Notably, Philepittidae exhibited a lower prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites compared to Nectariniidae, possibly due to potential resistance mechanisms. Despite N. coruscans sharing similar habitat and behavioural ecology with both Cinnyris spp., it closely resembles its relative, P. castanea, in all aspects of haemosporidian parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Barbon
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Friederike Woog
- State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sandrine Musa
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
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Musa S. Mitochondrial genome amplification of avian haemosporidian parasites from single-infected wildlife samples using a novel nested PCR approach. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2967-2975. [PMID: 37787788 PMCID: PMC10667411 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07986-1] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Haemosporidian parasites that infect birds (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) are blood parasites that require an invertebrate host (vector) and a vertebrate host for their lifecycle and cause malaria-like diseases. This group of parasites has provided valuable insights into host specificity, virulence, and parasite dispersal. Additionally, they have played a significant role in reshaping our understanding of the evolutionary history of apicomplexans. In order to accurately identify species and to address phylogenetic questions such as the timing of the haemosporidian radiation, the use of a sufficiently large genetic data set is crucial. However, acquiring this genetic data poses significant challenges. In this research, a sensitive nested PCR assay was developed. This assay allows for the easy amplification of complete mitochondrial genomes of haemosporidian parasites in birds, even during the chronic stage of infection. The effectiveness of this new nested PCR assay was evaluated using blood and tissue samples of birds with verified single parasite infections from previous studies. The approach involves amplifying four overlapping fragments of the mitochondrial genome and requires DNA extracts from single-infected samples. This method successfully amplified the complete mitochondrial genomes of 24 distinct haemosporidian parasite lineages found in various bird species. This data is invaluable for conducting phylogenetic analyses and accurately defining species. Furthermore, this study proposes the existence of at least 15 new haemosporidian parasite species based on the genetic information obtained. Data regarding pGRW04, previously categorized as Plasmodium relictum like pSGS1 and pGRW11, indicates that the pGRW04 lineage is actually a separate, hidden Plasmodium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Musa
- University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Str. 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
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Dubiec A, Atamas N, Ledwoń M. Very low prevalence of haemosporidian parasites in two species of marsh terns. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:3063-3075. [PMID: 37907627 PMCID: PMC10667446 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07997-y] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Vector-transmitted haemosporidians are among the most common parasites in birds, but our knowledge of the inter-specific patterns of infection rates and the parasite community composition is far from complete because of the unequal distribution of the screening effort across bird families and genera. To assess infection rates and the diversity of haemosporidians from the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon in marsh terns, which represent poorly explored in this regard genus of the family gulls, terns, and skimmers (Laridae), we screened two species: the Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) and the Black Tern (Chlidonias niger). We sampled these long-distance migratory birds on breeding grounds: the Whiskered Tern in south-central Poland and north-central Ukraine, and the Black Tern-in north-central Ukraine. We found that birds from both species were infected only sporadically, with prevalence at the population level not exceeding 3.4%. Only parasites from the genera Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon were detected. There was neither an inter-specific difference nor a difference between populations of the Whiskered Tern in infection rates. In total, we registered three lineages-one Plasmodium and two Leucocytozoon-that were previously recorded in other bird species, and two unidentified Plasmodium infections. One of the lineages (Leucocytozoon LARCAC02) represents a specialist parasite with the host range restricted to larids and geographic range restricted to Poland, and two others (Plasmodium SGS1 and Leucocytozoon CIAE02) represent generalist parasites with very broad host and geographic ranges. This study reinforces the existing evidence that terns host parasites from genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon only sporadically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dubiec
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Natalia Atamas
- Department of Animal Monitoring and Conservation, Laboratory of Population Ecology, I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, B. Khmelnytskoho Str., 15, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine
| | - Mateusz Ledwoń
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Cracow, Poland
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La Chapelle M, Ruta M, Dunn JC. Bird species with wider geographical ranges have higher blood parasite diversity but not prevalence across the African-Eurasian flyway. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:787-796. [PMID: 37467874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Avian blood parasites, from the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon, are predicted to alter their range and prevalence as global temperatures change, and host and vector ranges shift. Understanding large-scale patterns in the prevalence and diversity of avian malaria and malaria-like parasites is important due to an incomplete understanding of their effects in the wild, where studies suggest even light parasitaemia can potentially cause rapid mortality, especially in naïve populations. We conducted phylogenetically controlled analyses to test for differences in prevalence and lineage diversity of haemoparasite infection (for Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) in and between resident and migratory species along the African-Eurasian flyway. To test whether migratory strategy or range size drives differences in parasite prevalence and diversity between resident and migrant species, we included three categories of resident species: Eurasian only (n = 36 species), African only (n = 41), and species resident on both continents (n = 17), alongside intercontinental migrants (n = 64), using a subset of data from the MalAvi database comprising 27,861 individual birds. We found that species resident on both continents had a higher overall parasite diversity than all other categories. Eurasian residents had lower Plasmodium diversity than all other groups, and both migrants and species resident on both continents had higher Haemoproteus diversity than both African and Eurasian residents. Leucocytozoon diversity did not differ between groups. Prevalence patterns were less clear, with marked differences between genera. Both Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon prevalence was higher in species resident on both continents and African residents than in migrants and Eurasian residents. Haemoproteus prevalence was lower in Eurasian residents than species resident on both continents. Our findings contrast with previous findings in the North-South American flyway, where long-distance migrants had higher parasite diversity than residents and short-distance migrants, although we found contrasting patterns for parasite diversity to those seen for parasite prevalence. Crucially, our results suggest that geographic range may be more important than migratory strategy in driving parasite diversity within species along the African-Palaearctic flyway. Our findings differ between the three parasite genera included in our analysis, suggesting that vector ecology may be important in determining these large-scale patterns. Our results add to our understanding of global patterns in parasite diversity and abundance, and highlight the need to better understand the influence of vector ecology to understand the drivers of infection risk and predict responses to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary La Chapelle
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Marcello Ruta
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Jenny C Dunn
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK.
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Argamjav B, Morioka K, Rosyadi I, Yunus M, Sato H. Eimerian and capillariid infection in farmed ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus karpowi) in Ehime, Japan, with special reference to their phylogenetic relationships with congeners. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:3189-3203. [PMID: 37947873 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08014-y] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
We performed a parasitological examination of the gastrointestinal tract of farmed ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus karpowi) on two farms in Ehime, Japan. Fecal examination through flotation and sedimentation methods (43, 103, and 50 samples in three consecutive years from 2020, respectively) detected coccidian oocysts (5-58%), or capillarid (40-56%) and heterakid eggs (45-72%). Following artificial sporology, most sporulated coccidian oocysts were ellipsoidal without micropyle nor residuum, but with 1-3 polar refractile granules, morphologically reminiscent of Eimeria phasiani (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida: Eimeriidae). Intensive sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (cox-1) using pan-eimerian primers and multiple oocyst samples from different pheasants indicated a single species. We characterized, for the first time, the cox-1 sequence of E. phasiani, known to be prevalent in wild and captive ring-necked pheasants worldwide. Worm recovery under a dissection microscope revealed two capillariid and one heterakid nematode species: Eucoleus perforans (Nematoda: Trichocephalida: Capillariidae) in the esophageal epithelium (prevalence, 8-73%), Capillaria phasianina (Capillariidae) in the cecal mucosa (10-87%), and Heterakis gallinarum (Nematoda: Ascaridida: Heterakidae) in the cecal lumen (69-88%). The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) of E. perforans was perfectly identical to that in a previous isolate from farmed Japanese green pheasants (Phasianus colchicus versicolor) at a distant locality in Japan. The SSU rDNA of C. phasianina was characterized, for the first time, demonstrating a sister relationship with Capillaria anatis, parasites found in the ceca of domestic ducks, geese, and various wild anatid birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayanzul Argamjav
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Kiyoko Morioka
- Uwajima Branch, Nanyo Livestock Health Center, Uwajima, Ehime, Japan
| | - Imron Rosyadi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Muchammad Yunus
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University, Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Hiroshi Sato
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University, Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya, Indonesia.
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Martinez V, Keith KD, Grace JK, Voelker G. Avian haemosporidians of breeding birds in the Davis Mountains sky-islands of west Texas, USA. Parasitology 2023; 150:1266-1276. [PMID: 38072659 PMCID: PMC10941211 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023001087] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Avian haemosporidians are protozoan parasites transmitted by insect vectors that infect birds worldwide, negatively impacting avian fitness and survival. However, the majority of haemosporidian diversity remains undescribed. Quantifying this diversity is critical to determining parasite–host relationships and host-switching potentials of parasite lineages as climate change induces both host and vector range shifts. In this study, we conducted a community survey of avian haemosporidians found in breeding birds on the Davis Mountains sky islands in west Texas, USA. We determined parasite abundance and host associations and compared our results to data from nearby regions. A total of 265 birds were screened and infections were detected in 108 birds (40.8%). Most positive infections were identified as Haemoproteus (36.2%), followed by Plasmodium (6.8%) and Leucocytozoon (0.8%). A total of 71 haemosporidian lineages were detected of which 39 were previously undescribed. We found that regional similarity influenced shared lineages, as a higher number of lineages were shared with avian communities in the sky islands of New Mexico compared to south Texas, the Texas Gulf Coast and central Mexico. We found that migratory status of avian host did not influence parasite prevalence, but that host phylogeny is likely an important driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viridiana Martinez
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Katrina D Keith
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jacquelyn K Grace
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Gary Voelker
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Woodrow C, Rosca AT, Fletcher R, Hone A, Ruta M, Hamer KC, Dunn JC. Haemoproteus parasites and passerines: the effect of local generalists on inferences of host-parasite co-phylogeny in the British Isles. Parasitology 2023; 150:1307-1315. [PMID: 37395052 PMCID: PMC10941225 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000628] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Host–parasite associations provide a benchmark for investigating evolutionary arms races and antagonistic coevolution. However, potential ecological mechanisms underlying such associations are difficult to unravel. In particular, local adaptations of hosts and/or parasites may hamper reliable inferences of host–parasite relationships and the specialist–generalist definitions of parasite lineages, making it problematic to understand such relationships on a global scale. Phylogenetic methods were used to investigate co-phylogenetic patterns between vector-borne parasites of the genus Haemoproteus and their passeriform hosts, to infer the ecological interactions of parasites and hosts that may have driven the evolution of both groups in a local geographic domain. As several Haemoproteus lineages were only detected once, and given the occurrence of a single extreme generalist, the effect of removing individual lineages on the co-phylogeny pattern was tested. When all lineages were included, and when all singly detected lineages were removed, there was no convincing evidence for host–parasite co-phylogeny. However, when only the generalist lineage was removed, strong support for co-phylogeny was indicated, and ecological interactions could be successfully inferred. This study exemplifies the importance of identifying locally abundant lineages when sampling host–parasite systems, to provide reliable insights into the precise mechanisms underlying host–parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Woodrow
- Joseph Banks Laboratories, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Adina Teodora Rosca
- Joseph Banks Laboratories, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Rachel Fletcher
- Joseph Banks Laboratories, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Abigail Hone
- Joseph Banks Laboratories, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Marcello Ruta
- Joseph Banks Laboratories, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Keith C Hamer
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Jenny Claire Dunn
- Joseph Banks Laboratories, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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Smith WJ, Jezierski MT, Dunn JC, Clegg SM. Parasite exchange and hybridisation at a wild-feral-domestic interface. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:797-808. [PMID: 37474096 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between wild, feral, and domestic animals are of economic and conservation significance. The pigeon Columba livia is a synanthropic species in a feral form, but it also includes the rare Rock Dove. Columba livia is an important player at the wild-domestic interface, acting as a carrier of avian diseases, and the feral form threatens Rock Doves with extinction via hybridisation. Despite its abundance, little is known about drivers of disease prevalence in C. livia, or how disease and hybridisation represent synergistic threats to Rock Doves. We focused on infection by the parasite Trichomonas, first collating prevalence estimates in domestic and free-living populations from relevant studies of C. livia. Second, we characterised variation in the diversity and prevalence of Trichomonas among three C. livia populations in the United Kingdom: a feral, a Rock Dove, and a feral-wild hybrid population. Across multiple continents, free-living pigeons had lower Trichomonas infection than captive conspecifics, but the effect was weak. Environmental factors which could impact Trichomonas infection status did not explain variation in infection among populations. Among the British populations, strain diversity varied, and there was lower parasite prevalence in Rock Doves than feral pigeons. Individual infection status was not explained by the available covariates, including hybrid score and site. The drivers of Trichomonas prevalence are unclear, perhaps due to idiosyncratic local-scale drivers. However, given the population-level variation in both infection prevalence and introgressive hybridisation, the potential combined effects could accelerate the extinction of the Rock Dove. Further study of the synergistic effects of multiple types of biotic interactions at the wild-feral-domestic interface is warranted, especially where vagile, globally distributed and superabundant animals are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Smith
- Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, UK.
| | - Michał T Jezierski
- Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Jenny C Dunn
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, UK; School of Biology, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Sonya M Clegg
- Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, UK
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Vanstreels RET, Chagas CRF, Valkiūnas G, Dos Anjos CC, Parsons NJ, Roberts DG, Snyman A, Hurtado R, Kirchgatter K, Ludynia K, Pistorius PA. Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls ( Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae. Parasitology 2023; 150:1286-1295. [PMID: 36951108 PMCID: PMC10941229 DOI: 10.1017/s003118202300029x] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Haemoproteus spp. are dipteran-borne protozoa that infect erythrocytes and reticulo-endothelial cells of birds. These parasites are not usually transmitted between birds belonging to different orders. The suborder Lari (order Charadriiformes) comprises ~170 avian species, the majority of which are aquatic, including gulls, terns, auklets, murres and skuas, among others. In spite of the diversity of this avian group, there is limited known diversity of haemosporidian parasites, with only 4 recorded Haemoproteus morphospecies thus far. We examined the blood smears of 21 kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) captured at a breeding colony in South Africa, as well as Haemoproteus-positive archival blood smears of 15 kelp gulls and 1 Hartlaub's gull (Larus hartlaubii) sampled while under care at seabird rehabilitation facilities in South Africa. Haemoproteus sp. infection was detected in 19% of wild-caught kelp gulls. All parasites from the gulls were morphologically identified as Haemoproteus jenniae, a species previously recorded in Lari birds at the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Rocas Atoll (Brazil) and Poland. Gene sequencing uncovered a new cytochrome b lineage, LARDOM01, which was closely related to the previously reported H. jenniae lineage CREFUR01. Additionally, we evaluated a hapantotype blood smear of Haemoproteus skuae, which had been described infecting a brown skua (Catharacta antarctica) in South Africa. We provide a redescription of H. skuae and discuss the morphological characters distinguishing it from H. jenniae. Further research is necessary to improve our knowledge about the host and geographic distribution, health effects and phylogeny of H. jenniae and H. skuae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph E T Vanstreels
- Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | | | | | - Carolina C Dos Anjos
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nola J Parsons
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David G Roberts
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Albert Snyman
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Renata Hurtado
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katrin Ludynia
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Pierre A Pistorius
- Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
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Vieira LMDC, Pereira PHO, Vilela DADR, Landau I, Pacheco MA, Escalante AA, Ferreira FC, Braga ÉM. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. and Haemoproteus pulcher coinfection in Cariama cristata (Aves: Cariamiformes): first mitochondrial genome analysis and morphological description of a leucocytozoid in Brazil. Parasitology 2023; 150:1296-1306. [PMID: 37655743 PMCID: PMC10941214 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000811] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of avian haemosporidians of the genus Leucocytozoon in the Neotropics remains poorly understood. Recent studies confirmed their presence in the region using molecular techniques alone, but evidence for gametocytes and data on putative competent hosts for Leucocytozoon are still lacking outside highland areas. We combined morphological and molecular data to characterize a new Leucocytozoon species infecting a non-migratory red-legged seriema (Cariama cristata), the first report of a competent host for Leucocytozoon in Brazil. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. is distinguished from the Leucocytozoon fringillinarum group by its microgametocytes that are not strongly appressed to the host cell nucleus. The bird studied was coinfected with Haemoproteus pulcher, and we present a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis based on nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of these 2 parasites. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. morphology is consistent with our phylogenetic analysis indicating that it does not share a recent common ancestor with the L. fringillinarum group. Haemoproteus pulcher and Haemoproteus catharti form a monophyletic group with Haemocystidium parasites of Reptilia, supporting the polyphyly of the genus Haemoproteus. We also discussed the hypothesis that H. pulcher and H. catharti may be avian Haemocystidium, highlighting the need to study non-passerine parasites to untangle the systematics of Haemosporida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lis Marques de C Vieira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique O Pereira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniel Ambrózio da Rocha Vilela
- Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres, Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais não Renováveis, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Irène Landau
- Muséum Nation d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR7245, Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes, Paris, France
| | - M Andreína Pacheco
- Biology Department, Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ananias A Escalante
- Biology Department, Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Francisco C Ferreira
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Schubot Center for Avian Health, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Ranford-Cartwright LC. Special issue: avian malaria. Parasitology 2023; 150:1263-1265. [PMID: 38200697 PMCID: PMC10941031 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182024000040] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Avian malaria parasites or haemosporidia are found in bird species worldwide. This special issue focuses on 3 most commonly studied genera: Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon. Seven research articles and reviews are provided to illustrate the breadth of knowledge of the diversity of avian malaria parasites in different regional habitats and across bird species, and the use of avian haemosporidian systems to examine host–parasite eco-evolutionary questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa C Ranford-Cartwright
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow UK
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de Angeli Dutra D, Khan AU, Ferreira FC, Beirão MV, Pichorim M, Moreira PA, Braga ÉM. Host phylogeny and seasonality shapes avian haemosporidian prevalence in a Brazilian biodiverse and dry forest: the Caatinga. Parasitology 2023; 150:1277-1285. [PMID: 37246557 PMCID: PMC10941212 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000549] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The relationships between host phylogenetics, functional traits and parasites in wildlife remain poorly understood in the Neotropics, especially in habitats with marked seasonal variation. Here, we examined the effect of seasonality and host functional traits on the prevalence of avian haemosporidians (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) in the Brazilian Caatinga, a seasonally dry tropical forest. 933 birds were evaluated for haemosporidian infections. We found a high parasitism prevalence (51.2%), which was correlated with phylogenetic relatedness among avian species. Prevalence varied drastically among the 20 well-sampled species, ranging from 0 to 70%. Seasonality was the main factor associated with infections, but how this abiotic condition influenced parasite prevalence varied according to the host-parasite system. Plasmodium prevalence increased during the rainy season and, after excluding the large sample size of Columbiformes (n = 462/933), Plasmodium infection rate was maintained high in the wet season and showed a negative association with host body mass. No association was found between non-Columbiform bird prevalence and seasonality or body mass when evaluating both Plasmodium and Haemoproteus or only Haemoproteus infections. Parasite community was composed of 32 lineages including 7 new lineages. We evidenced that even dry domains can harbour a high prevalence and diversity of vector-borne parasites and pointed out seasonality as a ruling factor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asmat U Khan
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Department of Zoology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal Dir Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Francisco C Ferreira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Schubot Centre for Avian Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Marina V Beirão
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Mauro Pichorim
- Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, Ciências de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 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
| | - Érika M Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Jing S, Zhang Q, Li Y, Chang H, Xiang C, Han S, Yuan G, Fan J, He H. Identification of new drug candidates against Trichomonas gallinae using high-throughput screening. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023; 23:19-27. [PMID: 37562241 PMCID: PMC10424085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Trichomonas gallinae is a protozoan parasite that is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, and infects captive and wild bird species throughout the world. Although metronidazole has been the drug of choice against trichomoniasis for decades, most Trichomonas gallinae strains have developed resistance. Therefore, drugs with new modes of action or targets are urgently needed. Here, we report the development and application of a cell-based CCK-8 method for the high-throughput screening and identification of new inhibitors of Trichomonas gallinae as a beginning point for the development of new treatments for trichomoniasis. We performed the high-throughput screening of 173 anti-parasitic compounds, and found 16 compounds that were potentially effective against Trichomonas gallinae. By measuring the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) and median cytotoxic concentration (CC50), we identified 3 potentially safe and effective compounds against Trichomonas gallinae: anisomycin, fumagillin, and MG132. In conclusion, this research successfully established a high-throughput screening method for compounds and identified 3 new safe and effective compounds against Trichomonas gallinae, providing a new treatment scheme for trichomoniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengfan Jing
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, 071000, China; National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qingxun Zhang
- Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing, 100076, China
| | - Yi Li
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Han Chang
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Chen Xiang
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Shuyi Han
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Guohui Yuan
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jinghui Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, 071000, China.
| | - Hongxuan He
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China.
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Agbemelo-Tsomafo C, Adjei S, Kusi KA, Deitsch KW, Amoah D, Obeng-Kyeremeh R, Sumabe AM, Aniweh Y. Prevalence of Leucocytozoon infection in domestic birds in Ghana. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294066. [PMID: 38019839 PMCID: PMC10686479 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Leucocytozoon is a haemosporidian parasite known to cause leucocytozoonosis in domestic and wild birds in most parts of the world. It is an important pathogen, as some species can be pathogenic, especially in domestic birds. One of the factors affecting poultry health management worldwide is parasitism. However, the study of haemosporidian parasites in Ghana is still lacking. This study sought to assess the prevalence and diversity of Leucocytozoon parasites in domestic birds in Ghana. Blood samples were collected from domestic birds in Ghana's Bono and Eastern regions to screen for Leucocytozoon parasites. Thin blood smears were prepared for microscopy and DNA was extracted from whole blood kept in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes for PCR. Due to the large number of samples, real-time PCR was performed to amplify the conserved rDNA gene. Two different nested PCR protocols were performed on the positive samples obtained from real-time PCR results, to amplify a partial region of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and the amplicons were sequenced. Sequencing revealed six new lineages of Leucocytozoon sp. recovered in 976 individual domestic birds and these sequences were deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GenBank. An overall Leucocytozoon prevalence of 11.6% was reported in all birds sampled. The most prevalent lineage LGHA146 (GenBank accession no. OM643346) (93.8%) was found infecting 3 bird species, Gallus gallus, Meleagris gallopavo, and Anas platyrhynchos. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new lineages (GenBank accession nos. OM643342, OM643343, OM643344, OM643345, OM643346, and OM643347), reported in this study were closely related to Leucocytozoon schoutedeni. We suggest that further studies be conducted to evaluate the effect of these parasite species on the general well-being of poultry in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance Agbemelo-Tsomafo
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel Adjei
- Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo A. Kusi
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kirk W. Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Daniel Amoah
- Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Richard Obeng-Kyeremeh
- Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ayishetu M. Sumabe
- Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yaw Aniweh
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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Mora-Rubio C, Ferraguti M, Magallanes S, Bravo-Barriga D, Hernandez-Caballero I, Marzal A, de Lope F. Unravelling the mosquito-haemosporidian parasite-bird host network in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula: insights into malaria infections, mosquito community and feeding preferences. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:395. [PMID: 37915080 PMCID: PMC10619300 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05964-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BAKGROUND Vector-borne diseases affecting humans, wildlife and livestock have significantly increased their incidence and distribution in the last decades. Because the interaction among vectors-parasite-vertebrate hosts plays a key role driving vector-borne disease transmission, the analyses of the diversity and structure of vector-parasite networks and host-feeding preference may help to assess disease risk. Also, the study of seasonal variations in the structure and composition of vector and parasite communities may elucidate the current patterns of parasite persistence and spread as well as facilitate prediction of how climate variations may impact vector-borne disease transmission. Avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites constitute an exceptional model to understand the ecology and evolution of vector-borne diseases. However, the characterization of vector-haemosporidian parasite-bird host assemblages is largely unknown in many regions. METHODS Here, we analyzed 5859 female mosquitoes captured from May to November in five localities from southwestern Spain to explore the composition and seasonal variation of the vector-parasite-vertebrate host network. RESULTS We showed a gradual increase in mosquito abundance, peaking in July. A total of 16 different haemosporidian lineages were found infecting 13 mosquito species. Of these assemblages, more than 70% of these vector-parasite associations have not been described in previous studies. Moreover, three Haemoproteus lineages were reported for the first time in this study. The prevalence of avian malaria infections in mosquitoes varied significantly across the months, reaching a maximum in November. Mosquito blood-feeding preference was higher for mammals (62.5%), whereas 37.5% of vectors fed on birds, suggesting opportunistic feeding behavior. CONCLUSION These outcomes improve our understanding of disease transmission risk and help tovector control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Mora-Rubio
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Martina Ferraguti
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Seville, Spain.
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Parasitología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Veterinaria, Avda. Universidad S/N, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Irene Hernandez-Caballero
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Alfonso Marzal
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Jr. Maynas 1777, 22021, Tarapoto, Perú
| | - Florentino de Lope
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
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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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Ledwoń A, Szotowska I, Dolka I, Szeleszczuk P. MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ORNITHOSTRONGYLUS QUADRIRADIATUS ISOLATED FROM A RACING PIGEON (COLUMBA LIVIA DOMESTICA). J Parasitol 2023; 109:543-549. [PMID: 37944598 DOI: 10.1645/22-103] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
An infestation of Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, has been found in a racing pigeon Columba livia domestica). In addition, this individual had a mild infection with Trichomonas spp. and Eimeria spp. The bird showed symptoms of increased appetite; unformed, dark- green feces; and lack of typical male behavior, but the general condition of this pigeon was good. The pigeon was euthanized because of a permanent inability to fly due to an injury to the wing. A postmortem examination revealed the presence of very small dark-pink twisted nematodes with the morphology of O. quadriradiatus in the small intestine, mainly the duodenum. Histopathology showed segmental inflammatory changes in the intestines caused by both blood-sucking nematodes and Eimeria spp. The 5.8S ribosomal ribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction amplicons from deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from O. quadriradiatus had 82.40% identity with Australostrongylus victoriensis and 81.20% with Travassostrongylus spp. This is the first molecular characterization of O. quadriradiatus-a relatively rare pigeon parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Ledwoń
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 159c Nowoursynowska, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ines Szotowska
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 159c Nowoursynowska, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Izabella Dolka
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 159c Nowoursynowska, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Szeleszczuk
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 159c Nowoursynowska, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
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González-Olvera M, Hernandez-Colina A, Chantrey J, Allen S, Lopez J, Baylis M. A non-invasive feather-based methodology for the detection of blood parasites (Haemosporida). Sci Rep 2023; 13:16712. [PMID: 37794079 PMCID: PMC10550939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43932-y] [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: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood parasite (haemosporidian) infections are conventionally detected using blood samples; this implies capturing and handling birds to obtain them, which induces stress and causes pain. Feathers have blood vessels, and some blood could be preserved in the feather's shaft after moulting. We used feather DNA for detecting haemosporidians by PCR testing in diverse scenarios. First, haemosporidian DNA was detected in feathers from carcasses of infected birds, proving the feasibility of the approach. Storage temperature affected DNA recovery, with maximum retrieval and haemosporidian detection at the lowest temperature (- 20 °C). All feather types from infected birds kept at optimal conditions yielded haemosporidian DNA. Parasite detection by PCR was correlated with DNA yield, which was significantly higher in heavier birds, flight feathers, and more feathers per pool. Lastly, haemosporidians were detected employing feathers moulted from wild and captive birds to estimate infection prevalence. We show for the first time that using blood from feather shafts for haemosporidian detection can be an advantageous and less invasive alternative to blood sampling if feathers are optimally preserved. This method could contribute to uncovering haemosporidian infections in endangered and elusive birds, and it might facilitate routine screening in captive birds, thereby improving infection detection, prevention, and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merit González-Olvera
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Ic2 Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
- North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), Caughall Road, Chester, CH2 1LH, UK
| | - Arturo Hernandez-Colina
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Ic2 Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK.
- North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), Caughall Road, Chester, CH2 1LH, UK.
| | - Julian Chantrey
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Ic2 Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
| | - Simon Allen
- Gower Bird Hospital, Sandy Lane, Pennard, Swansea, SA3 2EW, UK
| | - Javier Lopez
- North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), Caughall Road, Chester, CH2 1LH, UK
| | - Matthew Baylis
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Ic2 Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
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Wardjomto MB, Ndlovu M, Pérez-Rodríguez A, Pori T, Nangammbi TC. Comparative performance of microscopy, nested PCR, and real-time PCR for screening avian haemosporidian parasites in Afrotropical starlings (family Sturnidae). Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2393-2404. [PMID: 37584836 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07941-0] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Prevalence studies of avian haemosporidian parasites frequently use microscopy and the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols for detecting infections. Newer PCR protocols to detect parasites are being developed, with the distinct advantage of reducing screening cost and time, as well as increasing efficiency and sensitivity. The detection ability of microscopy and nested PCR was compared against a real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol using genomic DNA extracted from 240 bird blood samples collected from three starling species (Cape Starling, the Greater Blue-eared Starling, and the Wattled Starling; family Sturnidae) in the Kruger national park, South Africa. All three protocols successfully detected avian haemosporidian parasites with the qPCR having a considerable edge against the other two methods. Fifteen unique cytochrome b lineages were identified of which seven were new lineages. Microscopy and nested PCR recorded similar prevalence (32.92% and 35.42% respectively). The qPCR protocol used here, although more sensitive (52.92% prevalence), is not able to differentiate between parasite genera but provides the opportunity to screen a large number of samples in large-scale studies within a specific region. This study recommends the development and adoption of new molecular protocols with increased sensitivity and accuracy in prevalence studies. Nevertheless, microscopy remains essential for the morphological description of parasites and for distinguishing between abortive and successful chronic infections. The PCR-based method displays the detection of the parasitic genome but does not reveal whether parasites have or will develop into a successful infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mduduzi Ndlovu
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa.
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, 1201, South Africa.
| | - Antón Pérez-Rodríguez
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
- Evolution and Conservation Biology Research Group. Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution. Faculty of Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Tshifhiwa C Nangammbi
- Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
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Herschberger JE, Rainey ST, Hernández F, Stewart KG, Montalvo A, Howard LK. EXPLORING A PLANT-DIVERSITY HYPOTHESIS TO EXPLAIN HELMINTH PREVALENCE IN NORTHERN BOBWHITE (COLINUS VIRGINIANUS) IN TEXAS, USA. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:651-661. [PMID: 37846916 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00124] [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: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Helminths, in particular eyeworms (Oxyspirura petrowi) and cecal worms (Aulonocephalus pennula), may be a factor influencing northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations in Texas. Previous research has shown a discrepancy in helminth infections between the Rolling Plains and Rio Grande Plains of Texas, US, potentially caused by differences in intermediate host distribution and abundance. We explored an alternative hypothesis centered on plant diversity, given that many plants possess phytochemicals with anthelmintic properties. We predicted that plant diversity would be greater and bobwhite diet more diverse in the Rio Grande Plains than the Rolling Plains, which in turn would potentially expose bobwhites to more plants with anthelmintic properties and therefore result in lower parasite prevalence and intensity. We conducted a literature review of plant diversity, anthelmintic plants, and bobwhite diet in Texas to explore this hypothesis. We also quantified the relationship between helminth prevalence in bobwhites and latitude. We documented trends for higher plant species richness, greater number of anthelmintic plants, and more diverse bobwhite diet in the Rio Grande Plains compared to the Rolling Plains. In addition, we documented a trend for increasing helminth prevalence with latitude for eyeworms but not cecal worms. Our study provides circumstantial evidence supporting the plant-diversity hypothesis and warrants experimental testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Herschberger
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Howe Agricultural Building, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this study
| | - Shaelyn T Rainey
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Howe Agricultural Building, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this study
| | - Fidel Hernández
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Howe Agricultural Building, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this study
| | - Kristyn G Stewart
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Howe Agricultural Building, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this study
| | - Andrea Montalvo
- East Foundation, 310 East Galbraith Street, Hebbronville, Texas 78361, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this study
| | - Lindsey K Howard
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Howe Agricultural Building, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this study
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Duc M, Himmel T, Ilgūnas M, Eigirdas V, Weissenböck H, Valkiūnas G. Exo-erythrocytic development of two Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae), with description of Haemoproteus dumbbellus, a new blood parasite of bunting birds (Emberizidae). Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:531-543. [PMID: 37263375 PMCID: PMC7615398 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.02.009] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Avian haemosporidians are widespread parasites categorized into four families of the order Haemosporida (Apicomplexa). Species of the subgenus Parahaemoproteus (genus Haemoproteus) belong to the Haemoproteidae and are transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. Reports of death due to tissue damage during haemoproteosis in non-adapted birds have raised concerns about these pathogens, especially as their exo-erythrocytic development is known for only a few Haemoproteus spp. More research is needed to better understand the patterns of the parasites' development in tissues and their impact on avian hosts. Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella (Emberizidae) and common house martins Delichon urbicum (Hirundinidae) were screened for Haemoproteus parasites by microscopic examination of blood films and PCR-based testing. Individuals with single infection were selected for histological investigations. H & E-stained sections were screened for detection and characterization of the exo-erythrocytic stages, while chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and phylogenetic analysis were performed to confirm the Haemoproteus origin and their phylogenetic relationships. Haemoproteus dumbbellus n. sp. was discovered in Emberiza citrinella single-infected with the lineage hEMCIR01. Meronts of H. dumbbellus n. sp. developed in various organs of five of six tested individuals, a pattern which was reported in other Haemoproteus species clustering in the same clade, suggesting this could be a phylogenetic trait. By contrast, in Delichon urbicum infected with the Haemoproteus lineage hDELURB2, which was linked to the more distantly related parasite Haemoproteus hirundinis, only megalomeronts were found in the pectoral muscles of two of six infected individuals. All exo-erythrocytic stages were confirmed to be Haemoproteus parasites by CISH using a Haemoproteus genus-specific probe. While the development of meronts seems to be typical for species of the clade containing H. dumbbellus, further investigations and data from more species are needed to explore whether a phylogenetic pattern occurs in meront or megalomeront formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Duc
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Tanja Himmel
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Mikas Ilgūnas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Eigirdas
- Ventės Ragas Ornithological Station, Marių 24, 99361 Ventė, Lithuania
| | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Institute of Pathology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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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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Caffara M, Tedesco P, Davidovich N, Rubini S, Luci V, Cantori A, Glogowski PA, Fioravanti ML, Gustinelli A. Molecular and morphological studies on Contracaecum rudolphii A and C. rudolphii B in great cormorants ( Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) from Italy and Israel. Parasitology 2023; 150:1040-1051. [PMID: 37859396 PMCID: PMC10941213 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000902] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of parasites is shaped by a variety of factors, among which are the migratory movements of their hosts. Israel has a unique position to migratory routes of several bird species leaving Europe to winter in Africa, however, detailed studies on the parasite fauna of birds from this area are scarce. Our study investigates occurrence and distribution of sibling species among Contracaecum rudolphii complex in Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis from Italy and Israel, to acquire further information on the geographical range of these species to gain deeper knowledge on the ecology of these parasites and their bird host. A total of 2383 Contracaecum were collected from the gastric mucosa of 28 great cormorants (18 from Israel and 10 from Italy). A subsample was processed for morphological analyses in light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and for molecular analyses through amplification and sequencing of the ITS rDNA and the cox2 mtDNA, and through PCR-RFLP. All the 683 Contracaecum subjected to molecular identification belonged to C. rudolphii s.l., (300 C. rudolphii A and 383 C. rudolphii B). SEM micrographs provided, for the first time, details of taxonomic structures in male specimens from both sibling species, and the first SEM characterization of C. rudolphii B. This work presents the first data on the occurrence of sibling species of C. rudolphii in Israel and provides additional information on the distribution of C. rudolphii A and B in Italy, confirming the high prevalence and intensity of infection observed in Ph. carbo sinensis from other Italian areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Caffara
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Perla Tedesco
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Silva Rubini
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Luci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessia Cantori
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrycja Anna Glogowski
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Fioravanti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Gustinelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Harl J, Himmel T, Ilgūnas M, Valkiūnas G, Weissenböck H. The 18S rRNA genes of Haemoproteus (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa) parasites from European songbirds with remarks on improved parasite diagnostics. Malar J 2023; 22:232. [PMID: 37563610 PMCID: PMC10416517 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04661-9] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nuclear ribosomal RNA genes of Plasmodium parasites are assumed to evolve according to a birth-and-death model with new variants originating by duplication and others becoming deleted. For some Plasmodium species, it has been shown that distinct variants of the 18S rRNA genes are expressed differentially in vertebrate hosts and mosquito vectors. The central aim was to evaluate whether avian haemosporidian parasites of the genus Haemoproteus also have substantially distinct 18S variants, focusing on lineages belonging to the Haemoproteus majoris and Haemoproteus belopolskyi species groups. METHODS The almost complete 18S rRNA genes of 19 Haemoproteus lineages of the subgenus Parahaemoproteus, which are common in passeriform birds from the Palaearctic, were sequenced. The PCR products of 20 blood and tissue samples containing 19 parasite lineages were subjected to molecular cloning, and ten clones in mean were sequenced each. The sequence features were analysed and phylogenetic trees were calculated, including sequence data published previously from eight additional Parahaemoproteus lineages. The geographic and host distribution of all 27 lineages was visualised as CytB haplotype networks and pie charts. Based on the 18S sequence data, species-specific oligonucleotide probes were designed to target the parasites in host tissue by in situ hybridization assays. RESULTS Most Haemoproteus lineages had two or more variants of the 18S gene like many Plasmodium species, but the maximum distances between variants were generally lower. Moreover, unlike in most mammalian and avian Plasmodium species, the 18S sequences of all but one parasite lineage clustered into reciprocally monophyletic clades. Considerably distinct 18S clusters were only found in Haemoproteus tartakovskyi hSISKIN1 and Haemoproteus sp. hROFI1. The presence of chimeric 18S variants in some Haemoproteus lineages indicates that their ribosomal units rather evolve in a semi-concerted fashion than according to a strict model of birth-and-death evolution. CONCLUSIONS Parasites of the subgenus Parahaemoproteus contain distinct 18S variants, but the intraspecific variability is lower than in most mammalian and avian Plasmodium species. The new 18S data provides a basis for more thorough investigations on the development of Haemoproteus parasites in host tissue using in situ hybridization techniques targeting specific parasite lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Harl
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tanja Himmel
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Gomes J, Leitão M, Louro MC, Brandão R, Mateus TL. Avian Malaria in wild birds from a wildlife rehabilitation center in Central Portugal. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 43:100904. [PMID: 37451760 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100904] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Avian haemosporidian (Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium) are vector-transmitted protozoan parasites highly prevalent in various bird species. Still, their importance for bird health, species decline, or impact on rehabilitation success is underestimated. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites after necropsies of seventy wild birds from thirty-four species of twelve taxonomic orders. Detection of avian haemosporidian DNA was evaluated using PCR amplification of the cytochrome b gene. 48.6% of all sampled birds were positive, with 24.3% positive for Plasmodium spp./Haemoproteus spp. and 44.3% for Leucocytozoon spp. Mixed infections corresponded to 20% of all tested birds. Sequencing of several selected samples revealed the infection of Plasmodium matutinum, Plasmodium relictum and different lineages of Leucocytozoon spp. This study provides a baseline description of haemosporidian infections in wild birds from a rehabilitation center in central Portugal. The results show the necessity to test and monitor possible infections that undermine recovery processes for different birds. Further research into the occurrence of these haemosporidian species in birds kept in conservation centers is needed to understand the impact on bird health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinto Gomes
- Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas, Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, Elvas, Portugal; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
| | | | - Mariana Caseiro Louro
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Brandão
- Centre for Ecology, Recovery and Surveillance of Wild Animals (CERVAS), Gouveia, Portugal
| | - Teresa Letra Mateus
- Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability (CISAS), Escola Superior Agrária de Ponte de Lima, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Ponte de Lima, Portugal; EpiUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal; Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Al4Animals), Vila Real, Portugal
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